January 17, 2013
Ontario government commited to creating trade opportunities, gives small and medium-sized businesses a boost
The Ontario government is moving ahead with two recommendations from the recently created Jobs and Prosperity Council to boost trade opportunities and to provide small and medium-sized businesses with new resources.
“To compete and win in the global economy, we need to help our businesses develop more internationally significant processes, target tradable sectors outside of our traditional markets and seize opportunities in emerging markets," said Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development and Innovation.
The government will create Global Exporter Forums to help Ontario companies gain access and expand into international markets where demand for exportable goods and services is rising. These forums will: improve export expertise for Ontario's small and medium-sized enterprises; build awareness of opportunities in emerging markets; increase the number of potential exporters; increase the number of exporters targeting new markets; and help expand and improve the export knowledge of Ontario's small and medium-sized enterprises.
The first Global Exporter Forum will highlight the Asia Pacific region, including markets in China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia.
The province will also pilot a Commercialization and Innovation Voucher to provide eligible small and medium enterprises with resources to work with research institutions to address challenges and improve their productivity, performance and competitiveness.
Last spring, Premier Dalton McGuinty announced the formation of the Jobs and Prosperity Council, which is chaired by Gordon Nixon, the president and chief executive officer of the Royal Bank of Canada. The council will provide the province with advice on what actions are needed to become more competitive and seize opportunities in the new global economy.
On Dec. 19, 2012, the Council released its report, Advantage Ontario, identifying five key areas for action: going global; driving productivity growth; unleashing innovation and entrepreneurship; capitalizing on strength in talent; and delivering smart, efficient government.
For more news, follow @DCN_Canada on Twitter
| MOST POPULAR STORIES |
| TODAY’S TOP CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS |
These projects have been selected from 470 projects with a total value of $6,376,918,947 that Reed Construction Data Building Reports reported on Wednesday.
$104,727,250 Toronto ON Tenders
$50,000,000 Markham ON Tenders
$25,000,000 Toronto ON Prebid
| CURRENT STORIES |
- VIDEO: Economic Update May 21, 2013
- Prompt payment bill headed to committee
- Final Phase
- A return to core values a must for banks: Carney
- OHMPA on the road with informative seminars
- Local 675 strike ends after new agreement ratified
- NDP says it will support Liberal budget, averting spring election
- Measure of U.S. economy’s future health rises 0.6 per cent in April after March dip
- Terratec awarded Brighton, Ont. Lagoon Clean-Out Project contract
- Fundraising campaign to reach target for new Shriners Hospital for Children
- George Brown College building named after Tridel CEO
- Construction Site Arson
- VIDEO: Journal of Commerce Update for the week of May 27th, 2013
- Historic church renovation reaches new heights
- Hiring of foreign workers for hospital project outrages union
- Acetylene torch explosion causes significant damage
- Festival of Architecture hits Halifax
- Winnipeg Southwest Transitway wins award
- Vendor performance is key measurement
- NDP leader spoke to police about corruption
- Big contract down under for ATCO Structures
- RFQ issued for Kamloops hospital project
| ALEX’S ECONOMICS BLOG |
Reed Construction Data Canada’s Chief Economist Alex Carrick discusses current developments in the North American economic environment with emphasis on the construction industry.
- An Overview of Prices and Sales in the Diverging U.S. and Canadian Housing Markets (April 25, 2013)
- Canada’s Precarious Dependence on the Commodity Price Super-Cycle (April 22, 2013)
- Twenty major upcoming residential and transportation terminal construction projects - April 2013 (April 15, 2013)
- More
