Investing in the Québec City area The Québec City and Chaudière-Appalaches region’s economic development agency, known as “PÔLE,” recently published a brochure comparing the greater Québec City area with about 20 Canadian and American urban centres, including Boston, Montréal, Vancouver and San Diego. Not surprisingly, Québec City is one of the best places to invest in North America. Indeed, it is ranked first or second in areas such as the following:

Highly positive reaction to French upgrade training in Québec Olyfran is a competition aimed at promoting the French language in Flanders. For this year’s edition, the Ministère des Relations internationales du Québec rewarded two French teachers for their excellent work with their students.

Québec's Delegate General with the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson and Mrs. Louise Arbour On June 24, as part of Québec’s National Holiday celebrations, Québec’s Delegate General in Brussels received two well-known Canadians at his residence, namely the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General of Canada, and Louise Arbour, President and CEO of the International Crisis Group, former Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

European traffic contributes to higher Port of Montréal results The Port of Montréal posted an increase of approximately 12.6% in container traffic for the first six months of 2010. All categories combined, traffic was up 7.9% for the first half of the year, compared with the corresponding period in 2009. According to the Montréal Port Authority, the two main drivers of this growth were containerized cargo and iron ore.

Marie-Nicole Lemieux, lieder de Alma Mahler à la Monnaie

London launches BIXI franchise Close to 5,000 BIXI bikes have been rolling though the streets of London, England, since July 30. The Mayor of the British capital, Boris Johnson, launched the world’s latest BIXI franchise last Friday. London has opted for Montréal’s public bike-rental system on the heels of places like Boston, Melbourne and Minneapolis. The project means an investment of close to £140 million over a five-year period.

Profitable mission to Farnborough Some 20 Québec companies, joined by Clément Gignac, Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, took part in the UK’s Farnborough International Airshow, which ran from July 19-25.

Eight young Montrealers at Shanghai World Expo 2010 Eight young Montrealers who are passionate about the environment are currently on a five-week visit to Shanghai, China. The young interns will lend their support to the on-site team to promote Espace Montréal at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 and acquaint visitors with innovations at the Saint Michel Environmental Complex (CESM). The Ministère des Relations internationales provided a $25,000 grant to make their visit possible.

Belle présence québécoise aux Francofolies de Spa

Towards more open government contracting in the Northeast Lenox, Massachusetts, recently played host to the 34th Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP), which was attended by Premier Jean Charest.

Exploration Orbite: Aluminum with a higher Québec content A small Québec mining company could be on the verge of creating a lot of jobs in a region that definitely needs them, the Gaspé Peninsula. At the same time, it could boost the local content of aluminum produced in Québec. Montréal-based Exploration Orbite, which is listed on Toronto’s TSX Venture Exchange, hopes to extract alumina from the aluminous clay found in abundance in Gaspé’s Grande-Vallée area.

Québec at the Farnborough International Airshow Some 20 Québec-based companies, including Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney Canada, CAE and Bell Helicopter, will be taking part in the Farnborough International Airshow (United Kingdom). Running from July 19-25, 2010, the event is expected to draw 280,000 visitors.

Catalonian Vice-President visits Québec Catalonian Vice-President Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira’s visit to Québec featured a meeting on July 7 with Premier Jean Charest.

HR without limits The 13th World Human Resources Congress will be held in Montréal from September 27 to 29, 2010. The Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés du Québec (OCRHAQ) has been designated to organize this prestigious international event.

New Québec-Catalonia youth exchange program Under a new exchange program, young Quebecers will be able to complete professional internships in Catalonia, while their Catalan counterparts will be able to do the same in Québec.

Québec and Japan sign nanotechnology agreements The signing of three new agreements by three Québec educational institutions and Shinshu University (Nagano Prefecture) provides further confirmation that the nanotechnology sector is one of the most active in terms of Québec-Japan relations and high-tech research.

Successful official visit to France Premier Jean Charest and International Relations Minister Pierre Arcand gave a positive account of their official working visit to Paris on June 29-30.

Bombardier Transportation to acquire close to 50% of Russian company Bombardier Transportation has won a bid to acquire a 50%-less-two-shares stake in United Electrical Engineering Plants (Elteza), a subsidiary of Russian Railways (RZD).

Québec multimedia sector generates over a billion dollars in revenue Establishments specializing in multimedia production in Québec generated $1.1 billion in total gross revenue in 2007-2008, according to data compiled by the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ), released Wednesday by the Observatoire de la culture et des communications du Québec (OCCQ). Some $935 million of this revenue was linked specifically to multimedia production.

2010 Québec National Holiday Québec’s National Holiday was an especially memorable occasion for Pascal Potier, winner of an eight-day trip for two to Québec, who received his prize from Gina Verkouter, Air Canada Sales Manager for Belgium and Luxembourg.