1) SME development

• To increase the productivity of enterprises
• To integrate new technologies into business practices
• To increase exports by seeking new markets for regional small and medium-sized enterprises, including agri-food enterprises
• To create enterprises and permanent jobs in the region’s key sectors (aluminum, wood, agri-food and tourism)

2) Improvement of the economic development environment

• To strengthen the regional economic structure, based on a long-term vision, through significant and targeted investment
• To highlight the region’s competitive advantages, based on a promotional and market search strategy for existing enterprises and to attract foreign enterprises
• To co-ordinate the region’s economic development in order to take charge of certain levers for development: information, design of strategies and sectoral expertise particularly in the area of wood processing

3) Specific initiative

Saguenay — Lac-Saint-Jean Regional Strategic Initiative

In keeping with its priorities, CED, together with its network of partners, offers SMEs a variety of programs and services .