MacGillivray to Chair Trade Meeting
The Department of Economic Development and Tourism today announced the appointment of a senior Halifax business executive to chair an international trade meeting scheduled for this spring.
Fred MacGillivray, president and CEO of the World Trade and Convention Centre, will chair the Nova Scotia component of the Boston Summit, called Summit II, to be held in Halifax in May.
The Boston Summit concept was developed by the provincial government to bring together public, private and education sector leaders from Nova Scotia and Massachusetts, and to enhance business and learning links between the two traditional north-south trading partners.
The first meeting was held last June, when Premier Russell MacLellan led a delegation of 40 provincial economic leaders to Boston where they were welcomed by Gov. Paul Celluci and his Massachusetts team from Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. The governor will be in turn leading a similar state delegation to Halifax this spring, where Summit II will be held at the new Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary's University.
Appropriately enough, Saint Mary's is the alma mater of Summit II chair Mr. MacGillivray, who has had an extensive and successful business career, particularly in the retail food industry where he was president of Bolands/IGA. A widely respected community leader, Mr. MacGillivray has served and led the boards of numerous organizations and advisory groups. Also acknowledged for his works beyond his immediate community, he has received regional and national recognition ranging from an honorary doctor of laws degree from New Brunswick's St. Thomas University to the Governor General's Medal.
"Fred MacGillivray has the right mix of experience, entrepreneurial spirit and personal energy to make Summit II a success, and we're delighted that he has agreed to take on this leadership role," said Manning MacDonald, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, in making the announcement today.
"I'm honoured to be asked to take on this challenge," said Mr. MacGillivray, "especially at a time when both Nova Scotia and Massachusetts are assuming key roles in the new North American economy."
Mr. MacDonald said that New England, and particularly the greater Boston area, is arguably Nova Scotia's most important foreign trade and investment market, and that the summit is a major impetus for continuing that growth opportunity for the provincial economy.
He said Mr. MacGillivray will be working closely with the director of the Office of Nova Scotia in New England, Gary MacPherson, in planning the conference. The minister said he expects to announce the composition of the full planning team by the end of this month.