Industrial clusters: driving economic growth in Greater Montréal - Leveraging industrial clusters to create economic growth

MONTREAL, May 6, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The directors of Greater Montréal's eight industrial clusters are pleased by the success of the first-ever Strategic Forum on Industrial Clusters. The event brought together more than 600 business people, decision makers, and influential figures at Palais des Congrès de Montréal for presentations on the notable contribution industrial clusters make to the Greater Montréal by spurring innovation, growth and building a strong economy.

The Forum was also the opportunity for cluster leaders to make the point that sustained development of industrial clusters is crucial to supporting Greater Montréal's economic performance as well as keeping its competitive edge in both domestic and overseas markets. Industrial clusters help structure a wide range of industries, which in turn gives Greater Montréal a competitive advantage and maintains a strong economy, even in uncertain economic times. And Greater Montréal alone represents half of the GDP, jobs, and population of the province of Québec.

Industrial clusters: boosting and strengthening the economy

The Forum was an opportunity for the business community to get a clearer sense of the competitive advantages industrial clusters confer on Greater Montréal. Clusters provide assistance, support, and direction to industries, helping them better meet the many challenges they face and grasp the opportunities to strengthen Greater Montréal's position as the engine driving Québec's economy forward.

By spearheading innovative projects, clusters build synergy between various Greater Montréal stakeholders and boost competitiveness. They play a number of roles, including:

• Increasing the sector's international awareness level and creating opportunities for its members.
• Improving the ability to innovate (creativity, learning) and industry productivity by facilitating interactions and shared interests between businesses.
• Ensuring the availability of qualified workforce and future talent by establishing programs that meet the sector's needs.
• Building healthy industries that develop social capital.
• Stimulating entrepreneurship within their industry by fostering relationships and complementary ties, as well as the transfer of knowledge, essential to start up new businesses.

The leaders of Québec's eight industrial clusters wish to thank the government of Québec, Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal, and the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montréal for organizing this exciting event that brings together Greater Montréal's business community to discuss a subject of capital importance: industrial clusters.

Greater Montréal's industrial clusters are aerospace (Aéro Montréal), audiovisual (ACTIONMTL), logistics and transportation (CargoM), life sciences and health technologies (Montréal InVivo), financial services (Finance Montréal), information technology and communications (TechnoMontréal), and clean technologies (Écotech Québec). The Québec aluminum industrial cluster (GIAQ) has been under development for several months.

An official photo of the event will be released on the press wire after the event.

Image with caption: "The Ministers Élaine Zakaïb and Jean-François Lisée, the mayor of Montréal and president of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal, Michael Applebaum, and the President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, Michel Leblanc, joined by the leaders of Greater Montreal's eight industrial clusters (CNW Group/CASACOM)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130506_C4087_PHOTO_EN_26437.jpg

SOURCE: La grappe audiovisuelle de Montréal - ACTIONMTL

or to arrange an interview with Forum partners or speakers:

David BARRETT, CASACOM
514-286-2145, extension 224
Cellular: 514-823-3726
[email protected] 

Mylène DEMERS, CASACOM
514-286-2145, extension 232
Cellular: 514-261-5840
[email protected]