International conference on aluminum processing Trois-Rivières, Quebec, September 30, 2004 -- The Honourable Jacques Saada, Minister of Canada Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Francophonie, today announced a $100,000 non-repayable contribution from the Government of Canada for the staging of TransAl 2005, the only international French-language conference devoted to aluminum processing, to be held in Trois-Rivières June 19 to 23, 2005. Co-chaired by the Quebec Centre for Aluminum Research and Development (Centre québécois de recherche et de développement de l'aluminium, or CQRDA) and France's Centre de Développement des Industries de Mise en forme des Matériaux (CTIF), the 3rd edition of TransAl will focus on the theme of Aluminum in transportation and construction, with activities built around the following topics: research, development of technology, and the economy and clients' needs. 'It is realistic to believe that the 2005 edition, as well as generating new projects, will see the implementation of arrangements initiated during TransAl 2002, when agreements were reached concerning several projects arising from TransAl 1999 or the 1997 Aluminium France-Québec missions,' stated Minister Saada. 'In addition to fostering the development of industrial and business partnerships, TransAl 2005, through its lectures, workshops and plenary sessions, will encourage knowledge transfer, an essential process in technological development.' In contributing financially to the next edition of TransAl, as it did to the previous editions, Canada Economic Development is reaffirming its support for the aluminum industry and for the development of new applications that will secure the industry's future. The Agency's financial assistance is paid under the Innovation component of the IDEA-SME program, and one of its purposes is to promote innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises. Canada Economic Development's mandate is to promote the economic development of the regions of Quebec. Primarily through financial assistance programs, the Agency elicits and supports the implementation of economic development projects. The two priorities the Agency has set itself are to foster innovation and the knowledge economy in each region of Quebec, and to help communities that are having difficulty adjusting to the new economy. In this way, the Agency contributes to the attainment of the Government of Canada's objective of building the 21st Century economy. Funding for this initiative was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget. - 30 - Sources: Guylaine BeaudoinCommunicationsCanada Economic Development(514) 283-0368 Jean-François Del TorchioPress SecretaryOffice of the Honourable Jacques Saada(514) 496-1282
