Press release
The Board of Trade concludes a trade mission that delivers great results and congratulates the Québec Government Office in London Economic Gala winners
Montréal, October 9, 2012 – The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal and its team of international trade experts, the World Trade Centre Montréal, have returned from a trade mission to London where they accompanied ten Québec businesses for meetings with potential partners. The Minister for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs and Sovereignist Governance, Alexandre Cloutier, joined the delegation as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Québec Government Office in London. Businesses and teaching institutions that have helped build strong, lasting ties between Québec and the U.K. were recognized at the Québec Government Office in London Economic Gala, which Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade, was a jury member for.
“This mission demonstrated the importance for Québec entrepreneurs of developing their network in Europe, at a time when negotiations for the Canadian-European Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) are progressing,” Michel Leblanc said. “The U.K. is already Québec’s third largest trading partner. There is still incredible potential, and the U.K. offers tremendous business opportunities in fields where Québec and its largest city excel.”
The delegates had the chance to meet individually and in groups with a number of potential partners. Participants also had the opportunity to discuss their plans for growth and trade prospects in the U.K. with Mr. Cloutier.
“I would like to point to the determination of the Québec entrepreneurs I met during the trade mission to London,” Mr. Cloutier said. “In addition to sharing Québec ideas and creativity in foreign countries, they draw inspiration from strengths found in other parts of the world to create jobs in Québec.”
“The mission helped us move forward in our efforts with partners,” Mario Leblanc, president of gsmprjct°technologie, said. “We have a five-year agreement with the owners of the highest tower in London, the Shard, where visitors can use our interactive telescopes and mobile application. Meetings with content suppliers during the trade mission made it possible for us to consider enhancing interactive telescope applications to improve the customer experience. We returned from London very satisfied with the agreements that will make our products more appealing and easier to market.”
“I would like to thank the Québec Government Office in London for its ongoing efforts on behalf of Québec and its businesses for the past 50 years,” Michel Leblanc said. “I would also like to congratulate the Québec and British winners of the awards of excellence at the Québec Government Office in London Economic Gala: Bombardier, ArcelorMittal, McGill University, Oxford University, iBwave and GlaxoSmithKline, as well as the recipient of the Caisse de dépôt Special Award, Cirque du Soleil. Their achievements, like those of the other companies nominated, have made a major contribution to a prosperous, lasting trade relationship between Québec and the U.K.”
About the trade mission to London
The trade mission to London was organized by the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal’s team of international trade experts, the World Trade Centre Montréal, in partnership with Export Québec, a unit of the Ministère des Relations internationales, de la Francophonie et du Commerce extérieur, and the Québec Government Office in London. This trade mission is part of the Board of Trade’s “Exporting Québec” initiative, developed in partnership with the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, Export Development Canada and La Presse.
About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is made up of some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.
About the World Trade Centre Montréal
Through its team of experts at the World Trade Centre Montréal, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal provides international trade services to the greater business community, with the support of Canada Economic Development.
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Source :
Sylvie Paquette
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Phone: 514-871-4000, extension 4015
spaquette@ccmm.qc.ca
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