March 1, 1999
(Industry, Trade and Technology)

Site selection forum to be held

"Over 60 business and government participants will attend a comprehensive Site Selection Forum in St. John's on March 2," said Industry, Trade and Technology Minister Sandra Kelly.

"Professional site selectors are individuals or agencies who advise their clients or companies about the best places available to expand or establish a business venture," Kelly said. "This forum is about the key role site selectors play in advising large corporations in North America and Europe on potential new sites, and the kind of specific information we need to have available for their consideration."

Kelly says the forum will focus on information site selectors would need in order to place the province, or its businesses, in the most advantageous position at the earliest stages of determining a location for their clients.

The minister noted that the March 2 forum is being organized by the Department of Industry Trade and Technology, in conjunction with ACOA, Industry Canada, and the Department of Development and Rural Renewal, and is being funded by the Canada-Newfoundland Comprehensive Economic Development Agreement (CEDA).

Kelly said the forum is a continuation of the department's investment attraction strategy and stems from a World Congress of the International Development Research Council (IDRC) which was held in Maryland last May, and was attended by representatives of ACOA and her department.

The IRDC is the umbrella organization for corporate real estate executives. Such IRDC congresses are billed as the world's largest gathering of such executives, economic developers, and senior-level corporate decision makers.

"These congresses are key venues for Newfoundland and Labrador to bring its message on what we have to offer an expanding or relocating business, and it's important to know exactly what they're looking for," Kelly said. "Being able to provide accurate business climate, community workforce, building and site data within a very short time-frame is an essential part of surviving the screening process."

Kelly says that without excellence at this stage, site selectors, whose clients are looking for new locations, will rule out potential jurisdictions even before a community visit.

The March 2 forum will be held at Hotel Newfoundland, and will be attended by representatives of cities, towns, development and business associations from throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. The event will be conducted by the Illinois consulting firm of Ticknor and Associates, along with representatives of The Wadley-Donovan Group, and Location Advisory Services, both of New Jersey.

"We're confident this site selection forum will help enhance the province's competitiveness at future IRDC congresses and follow-up events," Minister Kelly added.

Media contact: Doug Burgess, Director of Communications, (709) 729-0050.

1999 03 01 3:35 p.m.