NLIS 4
October 25, 2005
(Innovation, Trade and Rural Development)
More sessions held to
strengthen local supplier community
The Department of Innovation, Trade and
Rural Development, in keeping with its Supplier Development initiative
announced earlier this year, recently held three supplier development
sessions; one in Marystown and two in Labrador. The workshops, which
were developed in partnership with the Canadian Manufacturers and
Exporters (CME), included presentations from key public sector
procurement specialists from the federal, provincial and local levels,
and were designed to develop the province�s local supplier community.
�The feedback provided by participants at each session has been very
positive,� said Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Innovation, Trade and
Rural Development. �These sessions are beneficial to the many companies
and organizations that want to participate more fully in the public
sector purchasing process. I encourage all interested parties to watch
for and attend upcoming workshops in your region.�
The Marystown session was held on October 6, and was attended by
representatives from 20 companies and organizations. Wabush and Labrador
City held a session on October 12, with 20 participants in attendance.
Happy Valley-Goose Bay�s session was held on October 13, and was
attended by 10 representatives. Informal networking was offered after
each session, with participants taking advantage of the opportunity to
meet one-on-one with public sector purchasing agents. Future sessions
are being planned for other locations, including the Northern Peninsula,
the west coast and the Clarenville area.
The Supplier Development Initiative is a partnership of the Department
of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and the Canadian
Manufacturers and Exporters. It is designed to strengthen the
relationship and understanding between public sector purchasing agents
and private sector groups and thereby facilitate the development of our
local supplier community.
"CME has advocated for government to work with the local business
community to strengthen our ability to compete in public procurement.
This supplier development initiative, along with the changes made to the
Government Purchasing Agency last year, has been a substantial step
forward," said Bill Stirling, vice president of Canadian Manufacturers
and Exporters, Newfoundland and Labrador Division.
The following purchasing groups presented at the recently-held workshops
(please note that not all groups presented in all locations):
- Canadian Manufacturers and
Exporters;
- Government Purchasing Agency;
- Department of Transportation and
Works;
- Public Works and Government Services
Canada;
- College of the North Atlantic;
- Newfoundland and Labrador Housing
Corporation;
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro;
- Labrador Grenfell Regional
Integrated Health Board;
- Town of Marystown;
- Town of Wabush;
- Town of Labrador City;
- Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay;
- Serco.
Media contact: Lynn Evans,
Communications, (709)729-4570, (709)690-6290
2005 10 25
10:40 a.m. |