Montréal International announces its 2014 results at 19th Annual General Meeting - Supporting Greater Montréal's economy with $866.8M in foreign direct investment and 3,279 high-value-added jobs

MONTRÉAL, April 16, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Mr. L. Jacques Ménard, Chairman of the Board, and Ms. Dominique Anglade, President and CEO of Montréal International, today announced Montréal International's 2014 results at the organization's 19th Annual General Meeting, attended by close to 300 members and partners. Montréal International attracted foreign investments, international organizations and highly skilled workers to Greater Montréal, bolstering the metropolitan region's position as an attractive investment destination and enhancing its role as the driving force of the Québec economy.

"Everyone at Montréal International worked hard in 2014 to generate outstanding results and drive remarkable job creation in high-value-added sectors of Greater Montréal's economy," said Ms. Anglade. "Now, as we approach our 20^th anniversary—two years before Montréal's 375th birthday—these achievements are just what we need to aim even higher for the city's future!" she added.

One of the year's highlights is that Montréal International played a key role in 38 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects totalling $866.8 million. These projects will create or maintain 3,279 jobs over the next three years—20% more than in 2013 and 60% more than in 2012. Montréal International also helped strengthen the region's community of international organizations and increase its pool of qualified workers.

"Last fall, Greater Montréal's residents and leaders joined forces to revitalize the region through initiatives like I see mtl. Today, our metropolis is ready to take that new-found energy and reach its full potential so it can rival other North American large cities. And this is where Montréal International comes in. Montréal International is a state-of-the-art economic development agency that does an amazing job promoting Greater Montréal and generating wealth for the region by bringing everyone together around a common goal," said Mr. Ménard. "If we work together, we can all be part of Greater Montréal's success, and we all stand to benefit."

Mr. Ménard also highlighted Montréal International's expertise in identifying priority issues and putting forward recommendations on how to make the region more attractive to businesses, as it did at the public hearings of the Québec Taxation Review Committee. "Having such an organization working for Greater Montréal is a major advantage because everything it does supports Québec's job-creating high-tech industries, including the video game, special effects, aerospace, life sciences and health technologies industries," added Mr. Ménard.

2014 RESULTS IN DETAIL

Foreign direct investment (FDI)
In 2014, Montréal International helped 38 foreign subsidiaries keep, locate or expand their operations in Greater Montréal, attracting $866.8 million in foreign direct investment to the region. These new investments, half of which came from Europe, will generate 2,934 new jobs and maintain 345 jobs over the next three years. Two of the region's key industries—aerospace and information and communications technologies (ICT)—accounted for three quarters of investments.

Some of the businesses that chose Montréal include Gorilla Group, Orion Systems Integrators, ROOT Data Center (ICT); Cloudcade (video games); Atomic Fiction, BUF, Cinesite (visual effects); Berger-Levrault, Linagora (software); and FusiA, LTA and TechMahindra (aerospace).

What's more, Montréal International conducted 52 outbound investment missions and met with representatives of 239 subsidiaries of foreign companies already based in the 82 municipalities that make up Greater Montréal.

International organizations
Things also went well on the international organizations front as Montréal became one of the five global hubs of Future Earth, the world's leading global research platform. Montréal International played a key role in the process, working with the Fonds de recherche du Québec, Montréal's universities (Concordia University, McGill University, Université de Montréal, UQAM, INRS, ÉTS, Polytechnique), and the Ouranos climate research consortium to prepare the city's application package.

The same year, Montréal International was involved in extending the headquarters agreements of the International Council of Design, International Council of Graphic Design Associations and UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Additionally, it approached 73 international organizations on its outbound prospecting missions and helped 37 Montréal-based international organizations grow and expand their operations.

Skilled international workers
In 2014, Montréal International coordinated the participation of 32 Greater Montréal businesses in two overseas recruitment missions organized in partnership with the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Diversité et de l'Inclusion (MIDI) and Emploi-Québec. The outcome: 176 highly skilled, experienced workers relocated to Greater Montréal, driving growth in innovation-based industries that are key to Québec's economy.

Montréal International is one of the few investment promotion agencies that assist businesses and organizations with their international mobility issues. Last year, it helped obtain official documents (work permits, study permits and entry visas) for 480 international workers in 109 companies, institutions and international organizations based in the region. What's more, 572 international workers attended one of the 93 information sessions hosted by Montréal International to highlight the advantages of permanent residency.

MONTRÉAL INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

At its 19^th Annual General Meeting, Montréal International also appointed or reappointed a number of members to its Board of Directors, currently made up of the following individuals (N=New, R=Reappointed):

Private sector

• Dominique Anglade, President and CEO of Montréal International
• Francis Baillet, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Ubisoft
• Eric Bédard, Managing Partner for the Québec region, Fasken Martineau (R)
• André Boulanger, President, Hydro-Québec TransÉnergie
• Renaud Caron, Senior Vice-President – Strategic Development, CGI Group Inc. (R)
• Suzanne Fortier, Principal, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, McGill University (R)
• Marie-Josée Gagnon, CEO and Founder of Casacom
• Peter Kruyt, Vice-President, Power Corporation of Canada (N)
• Yves Lalumière, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tourisme Montréal
• Jean Laurin, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of Montréal International and President and Chief Executive Officer of NKF Devencore (R)
• Guy LeBlanc, Managing Partner, Montréal Office, PricewaterhouseCoopers (R)
• Jean-François Lépine, International Analyst and President of the Middle Eastern and North African Observatory (OMAN), Université du Québec à Montréal; and Partner, Communications and Governmental Affairs, Avistra International
• Tony Loffreda, Treasurer of the Board of Directors of Montréal International and Regional Vice-President, Commercial Financial Services, Western Quebec, RBC Royal Bank (R)
• L. Jacques Ménard, C.C., O.Q., LLD. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Montréal International, Chairman of BMO Nesbitt Burns and President of BMO Financial Group, Québec
• Jean-Luc Monfort, CEO, Solutions Bleues Canada (R)
• Pierre Pilote, Leader – Government Affairs Industry Group and Partner, Gowlings
• Philippe Rainville, Vice-President, Finance and Administration, and Chief Financial Officer, Aéroports de Montréal
• Louise Roy, Chancellor and Chair of the Board of Université de Montréal and Chair of the Board of CIRANO
• Jean-Pierre Sablé, Executive Vice-President, Marketing, Strategy and Innovation, Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec
• Jean Wilhelmy, Senior Vice-President, Aerospace, Construction, Services and Transportation, Solidarity Fund QFL

Public sector

• Ramez Ayoub, Mayor of Lorraine
• Harout Chitilian, Vice-President of the Executive Committee, City of Montréal
• Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montréal and Chair of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal
• Richard Deschamps, Councillor, City of Montréal
• Virginie Dufour, Member of the Executive Committee, City of Laval
• Manon Gauthier, Member of the Executive Committee, City of Montréal
• Claude Haineault, Mayor of Beauharnois
• Caroline St-Hilaire, Mayor of Longueuil

Observers

• Claude Gagnon, Director, Operations and Executive Assistant to the President, BMO Financial Group, Québec
• Marie-Chantal Girard, Vice-President, Policy and Communications, Canada Economic Development for Québec Regions
• Yves Guérin, Vice-President, Administration and Corporate Secretary, Montréal International
• Céline Haytayan, Assistant Corporate Secretary, Montréal International
• André Lavallée, Associate Secretary General for the Montréal region, Secrétariat à la région métropolitaine, ministère du Conseil exécutif

ABOUT MONTRÉAL INTERNATIONAL (WWW.MONTREALINTERNATIONAL.COM)

Montréal International (MI) acts as an economic driver for Greater Montréal to attract foreign wealth while accelerating the success of its partners and clients. Its role is to attract foreign investment, international organizations and skilled workers to Greater Montréal, and promote the region's competitive environment. MI also works to find the best ways to position the region as an attractive investment destination, and make recommendations to various levels of government to support Québec's job-creating, high-value-added industries.

Created in 1996, Montréal International is a non-profit organization funded by the private sector, the governments of Canada and Québec, the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (Montréal Metropolitan Community) and the City of Montréal.

SOURCE Montréal International

Céline Clément, Public Relations Director, Montréal International, 514-987-9317, [email protected]