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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alan Fogg, Director of Communications
afogg@fceda.org, 703-790-0600 (o) or 571-213-5065 (m)
Fairfax County hosts Quebec business and economic development delegation
Quebec Premier Charest keynotes Tysons Corner breakfast
Fairfax County, Virginia, April 19, 2005 – The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), in coordination with the government of Quebec, initiated the Quebec-Virginia Technology Partnership with a breakfast and matchmaking session today attended by 300 business leaders.
The purpose of the economic mission, led by Quebec Premier Jean Charest, is to expand opportunities in Fairfax County and northern Virginia for Quebec technology companies. Premier Charest keynoted the breakfast at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner. Following the breakfast, Quebec and Virginia companies participated in one-on-one business meetings.
Quebec is strong in information technology, systems integration, software, Internet technology, telecommunications and biotechnology, and the government wants to help companies there find U.S. partners.
“This is the first time that we have had the opportunity to work together and see where our economic opportunities are,” Charest told the crowd. “We have done very well in IT and biotech, and that goes along very well with Fairfax County and Virginia. That’s why we wanted to be with you this morning.”
Before the breakfast, Provance, a Quebec-based IT integrator that has a location in Fairfax County, signed an agreement with U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin to work together on several initiatives. Charest hailed the partnership as the kind of agreement that more companies from Fairfax County and Quebec could duplicate.
Gerald L. Gordon, Ph.D., president and CEO of the FCEDA, pledged the FCEDA’s help in developing more partnerships. “Premier Charest and the technology companies visiting Fairfax County will find a region robust in technology opportunities and we look forward to working with them in identifying potential matchmaking opportunities here,” he said.
Congressman Tom Davis and Gerald E. Connolly, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, led the Fairfax County delegation at the April 19 events.
“We created 25,000 jobs in Fairfax County alone last year,” Connolly said. “It is one of the most competitive and dynamic economies in the country. We look forward to working together. It makes sense to increase ties with our most important trading partner.”
“We work very hard to make sure the United States can buy the best products available, and it is in our interest to work with Canadian companies that are leaders in their fields,” Davis said.
More information about the matchmaking meetings with Quebec and Virginia companies is available at www.endeavorconnect.com.
The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (www.FairfaxCountyEDA.org) promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. The FCEDA assists businesses by identifying possible sites and facilities, and provides demographic and economic statistics. The FCEDA’s Capital Attraction Program links technology entrepreneurs with potential investors, and another program supports the growth of small and minority-owned companies. The FCEDA maintains overseas offices in Bangalore, Frankfurt, London, Seoul and Tel Aviv.
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