Minister Arcand sets sights on Texas

Thursday, February 25, 2010

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As part of a mission to the southern United States that got under way on February 22, Minister Pierre Arcand stopped in Houston and Austin, Texas, to meet with high-profile private and public stakeholders. The meetings were a chance for him to highlight Québec’s expertise in fields like energy and the environment, aerospace, nanotechnology and life sciences.

Loupe

Minister Arcand (centre), with Houston businesspeople and Ginette Chenard, Québec’s Delegate in Atlanta (on the right). Photo: Roch Théroux

With a gross domestic product of US$915 billion, higher than of Canada, Texas boasts the second-biggest economy of all U.S. states. It is Québec’s number-two trade partner south of the border, with trade in goods totalling $4.6 billion in 2008. It is also worth pointing out that Houston is home to 27 Fortune 500 head offices, outclassed in this area only by New York City.

In order to develop new business opportunities for Québec companies and boost trade, it is crucial that Québec identify fast-growing states like Texas and position itself as a key partner. This is part of the mission of the Québec government office in Atlanta, which supports Québec businesses that want to get a foothold in the southern U.S. market.

This is Minister Arcand’s first mission since the release in January of the Québec Government’s U.S. Strategy. The new Strategy includes an action plan identifying specific measures for deployment between now and 2013 in order to bolster Québec’s relations with the United States.

Québec Government’s U.S. Strategy
Relations between Québec and the United States
Québec government office in Atlanta