Rivière-du-Loup, September 17, 2009 - In keeping with its mission of becoming a technological and commercial leader, Premier Tech is pleased to announce the acquisition of Bag Treatment Holland (BTH), whose corporate office is in Eersel in the Netherlands.
At the invitation of the Québec Department of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade (MDEIE) and the Centre of Excellence for Textile and Geosynthetic Technologies (Groupe CTT), representatives of two Belgian companies—Bekintex (a member of the Bekaert Group) and Sioen Industries—travelled to Québec recently to attend the Hightex trade fair and the Buytex networking sessions.
On mission in Boston November 13 and 14, Québec Premier Jean Charest spoke during the 17th annual U.S.-Canada Energy Trade and Technology Conference of the New England-Canada Business Council (NECBC) to promote Québec as a key partner in providing clean, renewable energies. With less than 25 days remaining before the Copenhagen conference, Premier Charest reaffirmed the fundamental role of subnational states in the fight against climate change.
On November 10, Premier Jean Charest met with the Prince of Wales, who was accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall, during the couple’s official visit to Canada. Discussions focused primarily on climate change, relations between Québec and the United Kingdom, and the project for a Canada-EU economic partnership agreement.
A memorandum of understanding signed in Montréal between INIS (Québec’s National Institute of Image and Sound) and ESCAC (Catalonia’s School of Advanced Film and Audiovisual Studies) opens a new chapter in cultural cooperation between Québec and Catalonia. Through the agreement, the institutions seek primarily to stimulate exchanges among professors and provide an opportunity for students from Catalonia and Québec to carry out a project in conjunction with the Portraits croisés international exchange program.
On November 5, the Québec Government Office in São Paulo was inaugurated by the Minister of International Relations and Minister Responsible for La Francophonie, Pierre Arcand, with over 200 people in attendance. Brazilian authority representatives and members of the diplomatic corps posted in São Paulo were among the guests welcoming the Québec government’s official presence in Brazil.
While in Rio de Janeiro during his mission to Brazil, the Minister of International Relations and Minister Responsible for La Francophonie, Pierre Arcand, met with city officials and the state governor. Following the discussions, Minister Arcand confirmed that city officials are open to working with Québec companies and agencies interested in contributing to Rio’s development in anticipation of the major events scheduled to take place there: the 2011 Military World Games, the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The Québec film industry’s discovery of the year, J’ai tué ma mère (I Killed My Mother), by Xavier Dolan, screened in Hollywood on November 3 as part of the AFI FEST 2009 official competition. The film’s American premiere was held in the mythical Chinese Theatre in the presence of actors François Arnaud and Patricia Tulasne.
A business delegation will accompany the Minister of International Relations and Minister Responsible for La Francophonie, Pierre Arcand, on his mission to Brazil, which begins October 30. The mission’s purpose is to develop new areas of cooperation, boost investments and promote the know-how of Québec companies. Representatives from the cultural, educational, research, science and technology, and social economy sectors will also be joining the delegation which is scheduled to makes stops in Rio de Janeiro, Curitiba (Paraná) and São Paulo.
Twenty prêt-a-porter manufacturers from Québec participated in the highly anticipated Montréal Collections fashion show at AmericasMart Atlanta on October 17. More than 500 agents and buyers from specialty apparel boutiques and retail chains in the Southern United States attended the show highlighting spring collections for 2010. Montréal Collections, which takes place annually, is organized by the Ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation, in collaboration with the Québec Government Office in Atlanta.
Bolloré Group, the French industrial conglomerate, plans to invest $120 million in its Boucherville plant on Montreal’s South Shore. The facility produces batteries for electric cars and minibuses.
In a video interview for L'Express.fr, Québec’s Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Line Beauchamp, described the concerted effort of federated states, including Québec, to have their essential role recognized in the text of the next United Nations agreement on climate change.