Opportunities abound in Québec

The Québec economy has considerable development potential for any business wishing to participate in a dynamic, innovative economy, rich in human resources, that relies on solid business partnerships, is open to the world and whose strategic development choices focus resolutely on the future, according to information provided by France Verrette,communication advisor, Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Exportation.

Québec has some of the most competitive business start-up and operating costs among the industrialized economies. In 2007, a company’s costs were, on average, 7.6 per cent lower in Québec than in the United States and 10 per cent lower than the average for the G-7 countries. In Québec, electricity costs less than virtually anywhere else in the industrialized world and corporate tax is one of the most advantageous in North America.

According to Statistics Canada, Québec’s economy is the most diversified economy in Canada. This diversity attracts businesses in all key spheres of economic activity.

The province of Québec offers diverse and well-educated people that are able to function and perform in difficult niche markets such as insurance, financial services, technical helpdesk and pharmaceutical sales, confirms Jeanine Giorgi, senior vice-president, Canadian Operations at Protocol Integrated Direct Marketing.

Supporting Québec’s well-educated people are Montreal’s four universities – two French and two English – along with a multitude of technical colleges which attest to Quebecers embracing higher education. A number of post secondary institutions teach call centre specific courses, further enhancing the competencies of agents.

The province also offers a multilingual labour force providing the ability to hire for specific language requirements. Québec has the largest rate of bilingualism of any province, with over 40 per cent of residents fluent in more than one language. Apart from both English and French, substantial numbers of Québec residents speak Arabic, Italian, and Spanish. These language groups are concentrated heavily in the Montréal region, which is readily accessible for call centre outsourcers requiring employees to serve US, European, and Middle Eastern markets.

Giorgi is an active member of the board of the Relationship Marketing Association whose mission is to actively promote relationship marketing and contribute to the development, evolution and prestige of its industry, across all channels.

Whether you’re already a member or a frequent participant in our events, you belong to the community of whose collective and comprehensive marketing expertise gives the AMR a pivotal position and key perspective on relationship marketing in Québec.

Affiliated with the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA), this not-for-profit community of close to 2,000 professionals has many activities, including the eighth AMR Golf Classic in Mirabel on June 4. Details at www.amrq.com/fr/index_activites.cfm

Nine universities grant more than 60,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees each year. Over 200 university R&D centres are located in Montréal, more than in any other Canadian city. The faculties of medicine at McGill University, Université Laval, the Université de Montréal and the Université de Sherbrooke rank among Canada’s top 10 medical faculties.

Québec workers are also reputed for their loyalty and stability, which is an undoubted advantage in a constantly changing world.

For guidance and advice, contact: Investissement Québec www.investquebec.com/en/;

Société générale de financement www.sgfqc/com/en; or Ministère du Développement économique, de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation www.mdeie.gouv.qc.ca/page/web/portail/en; (418) 691-5698