Montréal International presents exceptional 2015 results and marks its 20th anniversary at Annual General Meeting - $1 billion in foreign direct investment, three new international organizations and an international network of ambassadors for Greater Montréal

MONTRÉAL, April 21, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Montréal International, Greater Montréal's economic development agency, held its 2016 Annual General Meeting today. The event was attended by over 300 people and marked the organization's 20th anniversary. L. Jacques Ménard, Chair of the Board of Directors, and Hubert Bolduc, President and CEO, took the opportunity to present the organization's exceptional 2015 results.

Once again, Montréal International generated significant economic benefits for Greater Montréal, contributing 20% to Québec's GDP growth. This was achieved through 48 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects, worth $1 billion, which will create or maintain 3,449 jobs over the next three years. Montréal International's expertise also increased the metropolitan area's pool of qualified workers. What's more, Montréal International helped four new international organizations locate or expand in the region and launched Contact MTL – The Greater Montréal ambassadors network - to raise the region's international profile.

"In 2016 more than ever, open economies like Greater Montréal's need to look past national borders and attract international capital and talent to achieve growth," said Mr. Bolduc. "This is precisely why Montréal International is pursuing an aggressive strategy, targeting strong sectors and priority areas to attract the most innovative businesses, the most influential international organizations and the most creative and skilled international workers. Our 2015 achievements are proof that such a targeted approach really works," he added.

"In 2015, Montréal International's lead generation and investment promotion activities once again helped position Greater Montréal as a destination of choice for foreign companies, strategic talent and international organizations, bringing significant benefits to the entire community," Mr. Ménard said. "Montréal International is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. That's two decades of promoting Greater Montréal and generating wealth by acting as a key driver of economic growth in the region. We are confidently embarking on a new period of growth, driven by our desire and determination to better serve the Greater Montréal area."

Mr. Ménard also highlighted Montréal International's leadership in identifying priority issues and putting forward recommendations on how to make the region more attractive to businesses. "To help promote Greater Montréal as an attractive investment destination, we also created the Conseil de l'attractivité, a group of Montréal leaders determined to better understand the issues Greater Montréal is facing and find solutions to draw more businesses and talent to the region."

2015 RESULTS IN DETAIL

Foreign direct investment
In 2015, Montréal International helped make 48 foreign direct investment projects possible, bringing a total of $1 billion to Greater Montréal. The investments, which enabled foreign subsidiaries to locate, expand or stay in the region, will generate 3,164 new jobs and maintain 285 jobs over the next three years. Half of the investments came from Europe and three-quarters were in two of the region's key high-tech sectors: information and communications technology (ICT), and life sciences and health technology.

The 50 or so projects supported by Montréal International include bringing companies such as Around the Word, Ignition Factory and MAXON (ICT); Flucticiel, Ivalua and SII (software); and Green Cross Biotherapeutics, Moleculomics and Oncodesign (life sciences) to Greater Montréal.

International organizations
Last year, Montréal International attracted three new international organizations to the metropolis (Future Earth, the world's leading global research platform; New Cities Foundation, an organization whose mission is to support the urban development of cities across the world; and Global Cultural Districts Network, a federation of centres of arts and culture). It also helped the International Bureau for Children's Rights expand. Greater Montréal's 64 international organizations bring economic benefits to the region, generating some 1,500 direct jobs and contributing $300 million to the economy each year. These organizations are also major contributors to the metropolitan area's international reputation.

Skilled international workers
In 2015, Montréal International supported 31 Greater Montréal businesses in their international recruitment efforts. Employers took part in international recruiting missions where they met with 1,000 candidates and conducted 1,600 interviews. This brought 142 highly skilled, experienced workers to Greater Montréal, and drove growth in innovation-based industries that are key to Québec's economy.

Montréal International is one of the few investment promotion agencies to assist businesses and organizations with their employees' international mobility needs. In 2015, 93 of the region's existing international businesses, institutions and organizations benefited from Montréal International's expertise and support in attracting and retaining 386 foreign workers (assistance obtaining official documents such as work permits, study permits and entry visas; new specialized continuing education training for recruitment heads and spouses of international workers). What's more, 295 of these workers attended one of the 39 information sessions hosted by Montréal International to highlight the advantages of permanent residency.

To learn more about Montréal International's 2015 achievements, consult the 2015 Annual Report : http://www.montrealinternational.com/report2015

MONTRÉAL INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

At its 2016 Annual General Meeting, Montréal International also appointed or reappointed members to its Board of Directors, currently made up of the following individuals (N=New, R=Reappointed):

Private sector

• Francis Baillet, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, Ubisoft (R)
• Alain Batty, Founder, Batty & Associates (N)
• Eric Bédard, Managing Partner, Québec region, Fasken Martineau
• Hubert Bolduc, President and CEO, Montréal International
• Renaud Caron, Senior Vice-President, Strategic Development, CGI Group
• Suzanne Fortier, Principal and Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer, McGill University
• Marie-Josée Gagnon, CEO and Founder, Casacom (R)
• Isabelle Hudon, Executive Chair, Québec and Senior Vice-President, Client Solutions, Sun Life Financial (N)
• Peter Kruyt, Vice-President, Power Corporation of Canada
• Jean Laurin, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors, Montréal International, and President and CEO, NKF Devencore
• Guy LeBlanc, Corporate Director
• Tony Loffreda, Treasurer of the Board of Directors, Montréal International, and Regional Vice President, Commercial Financial Services - Quebec Headquarters, RBC Royal Bank
• L. Jacques Ménard, C.C., O.Q., LLD, Chair of the Board of Directors, Montréal International, Chair of the Board of Directors, BMO Nesbitt Burns, and President, BMO Financial Group, Québec (R)
• Jean-Luc Monfort, CEO, Blue Solutions Canada
• John Parisella, Executive Director, Campus Montréal (R)
• Pierre Pilote, Leader, Government Affairs Industry Group, and Partner, Gowling WLG (R)
• Philippe Rainville, Vice-President, Finance and Administration, and Chief Financial Officer, Aéroports de Montréal (R)
• Louise Roy, Chancellor and Chair of the Board of Directors, Université de Montréal, and Chair of the Board of Directors, CIRANO (R)
• Jean-Pierre Sablé, Executive Vice-President, Marketing, Strategy and Innovation, Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec (R)
• Jean Wilhelmy, Senior Vice-President, Aerospace, Construction, Services and Transportation, Fonds de solidarité FTQ

Public sector

• Harout Chitilian, Vice-President, Executive Committee, City of Montréal (R)
• Denis Coderre, Mayor, City of Montréal, and President, Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (R)
• Richard Deschamps, Councillor, City of Montréal (R)
• Virginie Dufour, Member, Executive Committee, City of Laval (R)
• Julie Éthier, Acting Director, Développement économique Longueuil (N)
• Manon Gauthier, Member, Executive Committee, City of Montréal (R)
• Claude Haineault, Mayor, City of Beauharnois (R)

Observers

• 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
• Manon Lecours, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Occupation du territoire

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]