The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal plays host to major corporations from the Alberta energy sector

MONTREAL, June 13, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal will play host on Friday to a delegation of business people from the Alberta energy sector visiting Montréal. Senior management from three top companies in oil and gas production and transport, Suncor, Canadian National Resources Ltd. (CNRL) and TransCanada will be part of the delegation headed up by the Alberta Enterprise Group (AEG). Invited representatives will present business opportunities in Alberta's energy and environment sectors. The three companies will address their needs during a seminar attended by potential Québec suppliers.

"Alberta is experiencing a boom that our businesses can take advantage of to increase their market share outside Québec," says Michel Leblanc, president and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. "As a business destination, it offers excellent conditions: Alberta is one of the areas of North America with the fewest obstacles to individual and business economic activity, and its per capita GDP is one of the highest in the country, at $78,000."

"The exploitation of the province's vast natural gas and oil resources is definitely driving this growth," Michel Leblanc says. "That said, the impact is being felt in a multitude of other sectors. For example, $6.1 billion is being invested in the next five years in green technology alone, more than in every other province combined. Increased worker migration has in turn increased demand for consumer, education and health products and services. The province's vitality has also attracted major corporate head offices to its cities, reinforcing the financial and professional services sectors."

"Canadian energy companies travel the world looking for partners and suppliers," says Tim Shipton, president of AEG, pointing out that Alberta is Québec's second largest Canadian trading partner, after Ontario. "But we think Québec can play a bigger role in energy projects. The success of the Canadian energy industry depends on all provinces participating and investing, Québec in particular."

"This event comes on the heels of a first visit by our partners from Alberta last year," Michel Leblanc says. "Interest among major corporations such as Suncor, CNRL and TransCanada in meeting again with potential suppliers and partners in Montréal shows that Québec has recognized expertise in the fields of energy, the environment and construction. We expect that these meetings will be productive and result in an increased presence of Québec businesses on the Alberta market."

About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is made up of some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.

SOURCE: Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal

Sylvie Paquette
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Phone: [phone], extension 4015
[email protected]

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