The Îles-de-la-Madeleine Business Contact economic leadership event took place from 8:15 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2005, at the Château Madelinot, Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Organized jointly by Community Futures Development Corporation, the Société d’aide au développement des collectivités des Îles-de-la-Madeleine, the Agency’s Gaspésie – Îles-de-la-Madeleine Business Office and Canada Economic Development, the event attracted more than 155 entrepreneurs.

Conferences and meetings with Government of Canada representatives allowed participants to obtain information about business startups, growth, exports, innovation and productivity. What’s more, the event was organized around theme of particular interest to the Îles-de-la-Madeleine: innovation and the environment, fishing and aquaculture, tourism and culture, new information technologies, and climate change and wind power.

Roger Chevarie, President of the Société d’aide au développement des collectivités des Îles-de-la-Madeleine, and the Honourable Jacques Saada, Minister of Canada Economic Development, kicked off the Business Contact in the morning.