Saguenay (Jonquière borough), Quebec, September 7, 2007 – Business Contact, a day-long information event intended for Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean small and medium-sized business operators and regional stakeholders, was held this past September 6th at the Holiday Inn Saguenay hotel. Co-organized by Canada Economic Development and its regional partner the Centre québécois de développement durable, this event was a resounding success, drawing more than 270 participants.
The aim of Business Contact is to give entrepreneurs access to a wide array of activities in a single location. The first of its kind to be held in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, this event allowed participants the opportunity to talk with consultants representing various federal departments and agencies, the private sector, universities and regional development agencies with a view to finding solutions to the challenges facing their businesses. Acting as a lever in promoting the development of SMEs and the position of the region, this planning event also served as the ideal opportunity for networking and the forging of new business contacts.
“Business Contact helped showcase the exceptional know-how, ingenuity and excellence of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean SMEs and stakeholders,“ explained the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of Canada Economic Development, who kicked off the event with an opening address. “It clearly illustrated, as I have known for many years, that it is the unrivalled determination of the region’s entrepreneurs and development experts that has made it possible to rise to the challenges of the day. It is important for Canada’s new government, and for me personally, to support them in their efforts and thereby enhance the quality of life of local citizens. I am convinced that Business Contact brings us closer to that goal by making people better aware of the programs and services we offer in the regions,” he added.
During the course of the day, participants were given the opportunity to attend networking activities and take part in two business forums featuring testimonials by some 20 entrepreneurs on the importance of making SMEs more competitive, diversifying the economy and capitalizing on the region’s dynamism. Participants were also able to sit in on conferences on such timely topics as sustainable development, climate change and entrepreneurial issues, mobilization of human resources, economic diversification, business opportunities available to the region’s SMEs and Quebec tourism challenges for Saguenay–Lac-St-Jean enterprises. Hailing from different backgrounds, the guest speakers included heads of large corporations, small business owners, university chair holders, and association and consortium representatives, thus responding to needs as diverse as the region’s entrepreneurs themselves.
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Sources:
Nadia Marceau
Communications
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 418-668-4602 or 1-800-463-9808
E-mail: nadia.marceau@dec-ced.gc.ca
Roxane Marchand
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn
Canada Economic Development
Tel.: 819-953-5646
Cell.: 613-816-5094
E-mail: roxane.marchand@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca
