The Québec Premier will head a historic economic and institutional mission to Israel and the West Bank

Jerusalem, May 19, 2017. – Upon arriving in Israel, in his capacity as Québec’s Head of Government, the Premier travelled to Yad Vashem, the national museum commemorating the Holocaust. (CNW Group/Cabinet du premier ministre)

JERUSALEM, Israel, May 19, 2017 /CNW/ - On Friday, more than 100 representatives of Québec businesses and institutions will officially undertake a mission to Israel and the West Bank. This major mission to the region headed by the Québec Premier marks a first in the history of Québec's international relations. Three key economic sectors, aerospace, the life sciences, and medical, information and digital technologies (startups, multimedia, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity) are represented.

In addition to the Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy Dominique Anglade and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports (elementary and secondary education) and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister responsible for Higher Education (college and university education) David Birnbaum, will accompany the imposing Québec delegation, the biggest such undertaking since the mission to China in 2014 that the Premier headed.

"The rapidly changing global economic ecosystem is generating unique opportunities for partnerships to develop our economies and create high-quality jobs. The objectives that we all share are to encourage the conventional areas of activity central to our economy to modernize and contribute to the emergence of new fields that will enhance the quality of life of those around us. This mission will enable the Québec delegation to share, establish new ties and develop partnerships with one of the most innovative nations in the world. The 21st century economy is, above all, a knowledge-based economy, and Québec intends to position itself as a leading economic and scientific hub in research, training, and technology transfers. Innovation is in our DNA and it is Québec's creativity that we have come to share with the world."

Philippe Couillard, Premier of Québec

"Québec's economic development hinges on three key mainstays, entrepreneurship, the innovative manufacturing sector, and exports, which are enabling us to transform the Québec economy in all regions and ensure a high quality of life for everyone. Innovation, an essential ingredient to bolster our collective prosperity, underpins the mainstays. This mission will allow us to promote Québec know-how in the leading sectors of our economy, especially the life sciences, aerospace, digital technology, and the information and communications technologies. We will also have the opportunity to revitalize and broaden economic ties with Israel and the West Bank, promote collaboration in research and innovation, and develop our business relations with both partners."

Dominique Anglade, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy

"I feel privileged to participate in this major mission, which is of special importance to Québec's Jewish community. Whether in the economic, intellectual, political, cultural, artistic, scientific or medical spheres, the Jewish community has marked Québec's history for more than two centuries. I am delighted to witness this initial meeting between Quebecers, who stand out for their sense of innovation, and Israelis, recognized for their daring ideas and vitality."

David Birnbaum, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports (elementary and secondary education) and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister responsible for Higher Education (college and university education)

Highlights:

-  This mission falls within the scope of the series of strategies that the Québec government has put forward in recent months to equip Québec institutions and entrepreneurs, in particular:

• The 2016-2020 Quebec Export Strategy
• The 2017-2022 Québec Research and Innovation Strategy
• The 2016-2026 Québec Aerospace Strategy
• The 2017-2027 Québec Life Sciences Strategy

- In 2016, the value of merchandise trade between Québec and Israel stood at $345.5 million, a 32% increase over 2015.

• The value of such trade accounted for 20.7% of trade in goods between Canada and Israel.

- Israel ranks 38th among Québec's international trading partners.

- Between 2006 and 2015, 33 networking and research projects between Québec and Israeli researchers were supported.

- Québec universities are renowned for being very active in interuniversity cooperation and the fields of research and innovation with Israel.

• There are more than 25 agreements in effect between Québec establishments and Israeli partners.

-  A number of Québec organizations have carried out projects in the West Bank, in particular McGill University's International Community Action Network (ICAN), which seeks to reduce social inequality, promote civil society, and ensure the protection of human rights in the Middle East.

-  Economic relations between the West Bank and Québec are modest. Several fields, in particular, are of interest, including the life sciences and the information technologies.

SOURCE Cabinet du premier ministre

Sources: Harold Fortin, Spokesperson and Director of Communications of the Premier, Office of the Québec Premier, Telephone: [phone]; Cynthia St-Hilaire, Press Officer, Office of the Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, Telephone: [phone]; Elisabeth Prass, Director of the Riding Office, MNA for D'Arcy-McGee, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports (elementary and secondary education), Parliamentary Assistant to Minister responsible for Higher Education (college and university education), Telephone: [phone]; Information: Isabel Charron, Direction des communications et des affaires publiques, Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie, Telephone: [phone], ext. 57819