14th Annual Meeting of Montréal International - Highlights of 2009 Results

NEARLY $630 MILLION IN FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND TWO NEW INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ATTRACTED; HELP TO OVER 1,000 SKILLED FOREIGN WORKERS TO ESTABLISH IN GREATER MONTRÉAL

MONTREAL, April 15 /CNW Telbec/ - On the occasion of its 14th Annual Meeting held today with 200 members and partners attending, Montréal International (MI) presented its results for the year 2009. Among the highlights were the metropolitan economic development organization's success in contributing to attract nearly $630 million in foreign investment, two new international organizations and over 1,000 skilled foreign workers into Greater Montréal. On the innovation front, MI supported five promising projects in high-tech industries in Metropolitan Montréal. As for promoting the region's advantages on the international stage, some 40 activities were undertaken in foreign markets.

At the event - which welcomed Mr. André Lauzon, Executive Producer and Head of Electronic Arts Mobile Montréal as guest speaker - the Acting President and CEO of Montréal International, Mr. Luc Lacharité, emphasized: "The competence and dedication of MI's staff, combined with the support and collaboration of the organization's members and partners, once again has generated further substantial benefits for the metropolitan region's economic competitiveness and international status, in spite of difficult world economic conditions."

Foreign investment

In 2009, MI helped attract $626.3 million in foreign investment into Greater Montréal. This investment, nearly three-quarters of which is in high-technology sectors and will create or maintain over 2,900 jobs in the metropolitan region, comes 56% from North America, 32% from Europe and 12% from Asia. A further indicator of the added value of MI's results is that over half (55.3%) of the projects were new set-ups.

International organizations

In terms of attracting international organizations (IOs), the MI 2009 Activity Report mentions the decision of two IOs to set up in Montréal, as well as the official opening of the secretariats of two other IOs in the metropolis. Various international promotional and networking activities were also organized among the IOs community during the year.

Skilled foreign workers

In 2009, the International Mobility team handled 1,025 files of skilled foreign workers on behalf of 262 businesses, institutions and international organizations in Greater Montréal. In total, 1,784 individuals benefited from MI help and career counselling to settle in the region. The impact of this specialized foreign workforce is very positive for Greater Montréal, as their combined earnings will represent more than $155 million over three years. This qualified workforce also boosts the region's expertise in key sectors.

Innovation

Last year, MI supported five promising projects in innovation development in Greater Montréal:

    
    - Research and innovation initiative in computer-generated images, a
      Québec Film and Television Council project;
    - Mobility Alliance, a TechnoMontréal project in cooperation with
      Alliance numérique to develop and market new applications and new
      content for mobile platforms;
    - ScienceAffaires meetings, in cooperation with the Natural Sciences and
      Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), a pilot project to
      maximize sharing among scientists, artists, economic development
      players and the business world;
    - A market intelligence study in the medical drug sector, in cooperation
      with the Québec Consortium for Drug Discovery (CDQM);
    - The 2009 Aerospace Innovation Forum, organized by Aéro Montréal.
    

International promotion of Greater Montréal

At the top of the list of MI's key promotional achievements in 2009 is its upgraded website. The 2009-2010 edition of "Greater Montréal's Attractiveness Indicators" has also drawn keen interest. This annual MI publication also won an APDEQ (Québec Association of Economic Development Professionals) award in the best information tool category. Lastly, numerous promotional events were organized last year, including a mission to New York in which MI partners participated.

MI Board of Directors

The 2010-2011 Board of Directors of Montréal International is made up of the following members (N=new member, R=renewal):

Private Sector Members:

    
    - Mr. Luc Benoît, President, AECOM Tecsult;
    - Mr. André Boulanger, President, Hydro-Québec Distribution (R);
    - Mr. Jean-Jacques Bourgeault, Vice Chairman of the Board, Montréal
      International, and Corporate Director;
    - Mr. Pierre Brunet, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Montréal
      International, and Corporate Director;
    - Mr. Renaud Caron, Principal Vice President, Strategic Development,
      CGI Group;
    - Me C. Stephen Cheasley, Treasurer, Montréal International, and Partner,
      Fasken Martineau (R);
    - Mr. James C. Cherry, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aéroports
      de Montréal (R);
    - Mr. Richard Filion, Director General, Dawson College, and President,
      Regroupement des collèges du Montréal métropolitain
      (Metropolitan Montréal College Alliance);
    - Mr. Michel Guay, Chairman of the Board, TechnoMontréal (R);
    - Mr. Luc Lacharité, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer,
      Montréal International;
    - Mr. Guy LeBlanc, Managing Partner, Montréal Office,
      PricewaterhouseCoopers (N);
    - Me David McAusland, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault (R);
    - Mr. Andrew T. Molson, Vice Chairman, Molson Coors Brewing Company (R);
    - Mr. Marc Parent, President of the Board of Directors, Aéro Montréal,
      and President and Chief Executive Officer, CAE;
    - Ms. Louise Roy, Chancellor, Université de Montréal, Chair of the Board,
      Conseil des arts de Montréal, and Cirano invited Fellow (R);
    - Mr. Jean-Pierre Sauriol, President and CEO, Dessau;
    - Mr. Hubert Thibault, Vice President - Institutional Affairs, Fédération
      des caisses Desjardins du Québec (R);
    - Ms. Sylvie Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer, Montréal Port
      Authority (R);
    - Dr. Judith Woodsworth, President, Concordia University.
    

Public sector Representatives:

    
    - Mr. Michael Applebaum, Mayor of the Borough of Côte-des-Neiges -
      Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of the City
      of Montréal, responsible for Services to citizens, Relations with the
      Boroughs and Housing, Member of the Agglomeration Council and the Board
      of Directors of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) (N);
    - Mr. Richard Deschamps, Member of the Executive Committee, responsible
      for Major Projects 2025, Economic development, Infrastructures and
      Roads, City Councillor, LaSalle Borough, City of Montréal (R);
    - Mr. Claude Haineault, Mayor of the City of Beauharnois (R);
    - Mr. Luis Miranda, Mayor of the Anjou Borough, City of Montréal (R);
    - Ms. Sylvie Parent, Member of the Executive Committee, City of
      Longueuil (R);
    - Mr. Jean-Marc Robitaille, Mayor of the City of Terrebonne and Warden of
      MRC Des Moulins (R);
    - Mr. Jean Séguin, Sous-ministre adjoint à la Métropole, Ministère des
      Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l'Occupation du territoire
      (MAMROT);
    - Mr. Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of the City of Montréal and President of the
      Board, Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) (R);
    - Ms. Rita Tremblay, Vice President, Policy and Planning, Canada Economic
      Development for Québec Regions;
    - Mr. Gilles Vaillancourt, Mayor of the City of Laval and Vice President
      of the Board, Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM) (R).
    

A full report of Montréal International's 2009 activities is available on its website: www.montrealinternational.com.

About Montréal International

Montréal International (MI) was created in 1996 as a result of a private/public partnership. Its mission is to contribute to the economic development of metropolitan Montréal and to enhance its international status. Its mandates include attracting foreign investment, international organizations and qualified workers, supporting the development of innovation and metropolitan clusters, and promoting the competitive and international environment of Greater Montréal. Montréal International is funded by the private sector, the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (Montréal Metropolitan Community), the City of Montréal and the Governments of Canada and Québec.

Since its creation, Montréal International has helped to attract more than $7.5 billion in foreign investment to Greater Montréal. From these investments, more than 43 000 jobs have been created or maintained. To date, MI's activities have also allowed more than 25 international organizations to establish themselves in the city and attract more than 4 000 qualified foreign workers. To learn more, please visit MI Web site at: www.montrealinternational.com.

For further information: Benoît Lefèvre, Communications Advisor, Montréal International, [phone], [email protected]