The Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development will be hosting supplier development information sessions in the western region of the province this week. The first is being held in Stephenville today, October 25, and the second will be held in Channel-Port aux Basques on October 26.

"These sessions are designed to help local businesses learn about government purchasing requirements and for government to build a closer relationship with the supplier community in Newfoundland and Labrador," said the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. "At the end of the day, we�d like to see more Newfoundland and Labrador companies successfully bidding on government contracts and these sessions provide companies with the necessary information to make that happen."

The Stephenville session will take place on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at the Holiday Inn from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Channel-Port aux Basques session will be held at St. Christopher�s Hotel on Thursday, October 26, 2006 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Presentations from provincial, federal and local procurement specialists will be followed by a networking lunch.

The supplier development sessions are delivered in cooperation with the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, as well as federal, provincial and municipal public sector entities. This initiative 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.

Media contact:
Lynn Evans
Director of Communications
Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
709-729-4570, 690-6290
lynnevans@gov.nl.ca