By Robert Frank
www.thesuburban.com
Laval companies continue to conquer foreign markets, thanks to the efforts of Laval Technopole’s International Business Centre (IBC).
Last year, the organization focused on 27 local companies that wanted to expand abroad or enter new markets.
“We picked 27 companies with whom we devoted more time and resources to generate results,” Technopole international business director Véronique Proulx told The Suburban in an interview. “They were prepared to commit time, money and their people to the international market.”
“It proved a very effective strategy,” she said. “We accompanied them on trade missions and developed specialized coaching programs for them throughout the year to help them facilitate and accelerate their international presence.”
The results speak for themselves, Proulx declared.
“Of the 27 companies, 24 saw their sales grow, 14 signed distribution agreements around the world and 13 plan to create some 70 new jobs,” she enthused. “Some like Fourgon Transport and Bone Structure are starting to export. Nadair, which was already well-established in lighting in the United States and elsewhere, developed an entirely new central vacuum product.”
“They’ve gone through an extensive process during the past year, are well established in foreign markets and are ready to go to the next level,” Proulx said.
Now that these business hatchlings are thriving on their own abroad, Technopole’s is about to pick up to 30 new companies to put into its international incubator program for 2014.
“We’re selecting companies for the international VIP program now,” Proulx reminded, “companies that we will follow throughout the year.”
“These are some of the most dynamic companies in Laval,” she added “and we will be putting a lot of time into them.”
“They could range from startups to companies that are well-established but want to develop new markets,” Proulx explained. “Potential participants should call us to find out about the programs that we offer and how they can take advantage of them.”
“IBC helped Laval companies obtain $990,000 in external funding for their development projects in 2013,” she reported. “Those participants foresee a $52.7 million increase in sales during the next few years and plan to invest $5 million in marketing.”
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