Montréal, March 18, 2015 – The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal welcomes the announcement made today by Prime Minister Stephen Harper of measures to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) break into new and emerging markets. The government announced a new program that will provide $50 million over five years in direct financial aid to entrepreneurs seeking to develop new export markets and an expansion of the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service.
“This new financial assistance is great news for the city’s SMEs that want to develop new markets,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “Access to financing is a challenge, and this aid will help them take part in trade shows and trade missions, as well as fund market studies. The investments made when SMEs initially target new markets are crucial, particularly since it takes two or three years before they reach profitability.”
“We are particularly pleased with the expansion of the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service,” Michel Leblanc said. “Trade commissioners offer indispensible help to companies in their efforts on new markets, and their services nicely complement the preparatory work the Board of Trade does with SMEs through the World Trade Centre Montréal. With new trade agreements recently entered into with the European Union and South Korea, the demand for trade commissioner services is likely to increase in the coming years.”
About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has over 7,000 members. Its mission is to be the voice of Montréal’s business community and to promote the city’s prosperity. It is involved in key areas of economic development, advocating a philosophy of action based on engagement, credibility, proactivity, collaboration and innovation. The Board of Trade also offers a range of specialized services to individuals and to business of all sizes to support them in their growth at home and abroad.
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Source:
Michelle LLambias Meunier
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4042
mllambias@ccmm.qc.ca
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