Staff from major corporations will soon be gathered in the same room with local businesses interested in earning their business.
It is the second time Initiatives Prince George has held a market expansion forum centred on procurement opportunities. CEO Heather Oland said the major resource projects and heavy industry proponents looking at this region prefer to use local goods, services and personnel if they can find them. This brings everyone into the same room to make those lines of communication shorter.
"We have deliberately planned the [meeting] to coincide with the premier's BC Natural Resources Forum because it creates an excellent opportunity to connect major project proponents with local and regional businesses," said Oland. "[It provides] major companies investing in northern B.C. with the opportunity to outline their project's procurement processes and schedules. This kind of information is incredibly valuable to local businesses who are bidding on different components of major projects throughout the north."
The forum happens Jan. 21 followed by the premier's trade fair on Jan. 22 and 23.
In addition to connecting interested local businesses with incoming major projects, the forum will also boost the general knowledge about the industrial dreams for this region. Many - Mount Milligan Mine's opening, Gibraltar Mine's expansion, and advancements in New Gold Mining's Blackwater gold proposal - have had recent success.
More mining, pipeline, hydroelectric, transportation and other big-ticket ideas are on the table.
IPG's second annual Market Expansion Forum runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Coast Inn of the North with two industry sessions running concurrently throughout the day. Each session will feature a major project proponent from the mining, energy, and oil and gas sectors.
There will also be a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister responsible for Labour .
Registration is required. The links are available online at the IPG website (www.initiativespg.com).
