Quebec and Ottawa award nearly $1.1M to increase business export and innovation activities in the agglomeration of Longueuil

Support for regional economic development

BOUCHERVILLE, QC, Aug. 21, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)

The governments of Quebec and Canada are renewing $1,078,000 in financial contributions over the next three years to Développement économique de l'agglomération de Longueuil (DEL), so that it can continue, as a regional export organization (ORPEX), to help businesses carry out export activities and be better prepared to commercialize their products and services in markets outside Quebec. The Government of Canada's contribution also includes an innovation support component.

Sherry Romanado, Member of Parliament for Longueuil–Charles-LeMoyne, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, acting on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), and Nicole Ménard, Member for Laporte and Chief Government Whip, acting on behalf of Dominique Anglade, Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, made the announcement today.

DEL is receiving a non-repayable contribution of $360,000 from the ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation (MESI) to carry out its export assistance activities evaluated at $1,3M. The assistance has been granted through the Programme Exportation (PEX) as part of the implementation of the Stratégie québécoise de l'exportation 2016-2020, which is coordinated by Export Québec. CED has awarded a non‑repayable contribution of $718,000 through the Quebec Economic Development Program.

ORPEXes help businesses

• develop international business plans;
• obtain information on exports;
• organize their actions to enter foreign markets;
• obtain a diagnosis on their export capacity;
• find out about funding opportunities for their export projects;
• acquire specialized training.

Quotes:

"Développement économique de l'agglomération de Longueuil has been contributing to the economic vitality of the Longueuil area since 2002 through a wide range of training, coaching and consulting services for innovative exporting businesses. This organization is a valuable ally of entrepreneurs in Boucherville, Brossard, Longueuil, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville and Saint-Lambert, and that is why we are pleased to support its development."

Sherry Romanado, Member of Parliament for Longueuil–Charles-LeMoyne, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

"Since 2004, we have supported nearly 60 projects carried out by Développement économique de l'agglomération de Longueuil. The organization wants this area to become the most attractive, prosperous and innovative area in greater Montréal. SMEs are regional stakeholders in that they play an active role in the growth and prosperity of local municipalities. To attain greater wealth, Quebec must continue to support them so that they can become even more innovative, productive and competitive."

Nicole Ménard, Member for Laporte and Chief Government Whip

"DEL is a strategic partner. It is working with MESI's Montérégie regional directorate and Export Québec in raising export awareness among businesses in their respective regions and in training and preparing them to export. It is also a primary resource for businesses in the agglomeration of Longueuil which need front-line coaching and professional and technical expertise to become exporters."

Lucie Charlebois, Minister for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection, Public Health and Healthy Living and Minister responsible for the Montérégie region

"For many years, MESI has been able to rely on support from ORPEXes in 16 regions to assist businesses that want to enter new markets. It is critical to increase awareness among SMEs about the potential benefits provided by foreign markets. By exporting their goods and services, SMEs promote their know-how and talent internationally, thus multiplying promising business opportunities. Fostering export projects is part of our economic vision for all of Quebec. It is also one of the objectives of the Stratégie québécoise de l'exportation 2016‑2020, which is helping our businesses make their mark in a very competitive global market."

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

"CED has been proudly funding ORPEXes since their creation in 1990. These unique Quebec organizations are contributing not only to the achievement of CED's targets for the global commercialization and positioning of businesses, but also to the attainment of a 30% increase in Canadian exports by 2025, an ambitious goal set by the Government of Canada. By emphasizing the importance of innovation, this renewed funding will give Quebec enterprises the tools they need to gain an edge in a highly competitive global ecosystem."

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for CED

"We know that nearly half of our 800 or so manufacturers export, so financial support from the federal and provincial governments, along with that from the cities in the agglomeration, is critical in facilitating and accelerating business export projects. DEL is proud to contribute to the success of new-to-export companies and those that are in a market diversification or consolidation phase."

Julie Ethier, Director General, Développement économique de l'agglomération de Longueuil

Highlights:

• Développement économique de l'agglomération de Longueuil (website in French only) was created in 2002 and is the result of a joint economic and political will to provide the Longueuil agglomeration with the economic strength required for its development. DEL is a non-profit organization that provides services for all manufacturers, tech companies and industrial enterprises in the five following cities: Boucherville, Brossard, Longueuil, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville and Saint‑Lambert.
• ORPEXes (website in French only) support the regional offices of MESI and Export Québec in helping raise export awareness among businesses in their respective regions and in training and preparing them for export activities. Each organization contributes to the achievement of measures 2 and 7 of the Stratégie québécoise de l'exportation 2016-2020 (website in French only), namely "Provide better direction for business export strategies" and "Prepare and provide training sessions in market development, logistics and marketing". ORPEXes also promote exports to businesses.
• The Government of Quebec launched the Stratégie québécoise de l'exportation 2016‑2020; it has an envelope of $536.8M and its goal is to guide 4,000 businesses in their export efforts.
• The goal of the PEX program (website in French only) is to make Quebec businesses aware of the growth potential of exports and to support them in developing and diversifying foreign markets.
• CED is one of the six regional development agencies under the responsibility of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development.
• This year marks the 50th anniversary of federal regional economic development in Quebec: half a century of concrete action dedicated to the development of the regions and local businesses.

Related links:

• For more information on CED and its priorities, consult the 2018–2019 Departmental Plan or visit www.dec-ced.gc.ca.
• To receive real-time news releases from the ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation, subscribe to the appropriate RSS news feed at www.economie.gouv.qc.ca/rss.

MESI on social networks:

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CED on social networks:

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• YouTube

Développement économique de l'agglomération de Longueuil on social networks:

• Twitter

SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

For further information: Sources: Hélène Houle, Political Attaché, Constituency Office of Laporte, Tel.: [phone]; Bianca Boutin, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister for Rehabilitation, Youth Protection, Public Health and Healthy Living and Minister responsible for the Montérégie region, Tel.: [phone]; Guillaume Bérubé, Communications Director, Office of the Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister responsible for the Digital Strategy, Tel.: [phone]; Information: Jean-Pierre D'Auteuil, Media Relations Officer, Communications Directorate, Ministère de l'Économie, de la Science et de l'Innovation, Tel.: [phone], extension 4868, Cell: 418-559-0710; Media Relations, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Tel.: [phone], Email: [e-mail]