Pictou Area Businesses to Meet Public Sector Purchasers

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT--Pictou Area Businesses to Meet Public Sector Purchasers

How do private sector businesses get a bigger slice of the $1 billion in goods and services purchased by government, hospitals and school boards each year?

Representatives from the public sector will answer that question at a reverse trade show in Pictou County on Wednesday, Feb. 23. Buyers from the public sector -- government, hospitals and school boards -- will be in trade show booths to answer questions from the private sector.

"The province is committed to working with Nova Scotia suppliers to help them increase access to business opportunities and improve competitiveness in all markets," said Peter Christie, acting Minister of Economic Development. "This is a great opportunity for businesses to meet one-on-one with public sector buyers and to learn the rules for selling to government, schools and hospitals."

The trade show will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday at the Museum of Industry in Stellarton. It is hosted by the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce.

Nova Scotia businesses get about 80 per cent of the $1 billion that the public sector spends each year on goods, services and construction. Private sector businesses in Nova Scotia would like that number to grow, and the public sector plans to help.

Representatives of the following federal, provincial and municipal government organizations will attend the trade show:

• Chignecto-Central Regional School Board;
• County of Pictou;
• Pictou County Health Authority;
• Eastern Mainland Housing Authority;
• Nova Scotia Business Inc.;
• Nova Scotia Business Registry;
• Nova Scotia Community College;
• Public Works and Government Services Canada;
• Town of New Glasgow
• Town of Stellarton;
• Town of Trenton;
• Town of Westville;
• Department of Transportation and Public Works; and
• the procurement and community and rural development divisions of the Office of Economic Development.

The event is called a reverse trade show because it puts buyers in the booth and sellers in the audience. The initiative was developed by the government of Nova Scotia's Procurement Branch. It is only one part of a new initiative aimed at helping Nova Scotia businesses.

"The Supplier Development Program will not only help small businesses bid on government goods and services, it will provide new outreach services and community workshops on accessing procurement opportunities," added Mr. Christie.

For more information on the Supplier Development Program, see the website at www.gov.ns.ca/tenders/ .