Selling Goods and Services to Government

The province is helping Pictou County businesses sell more goods and services to the public sector.

Buyers from municipal, provincial and federal governments, universities, colleges, school boards and health authorities will be available to meet local business operators at a trade show on Wednesday, May 16, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Museum of Industry, 147 North Foord St., Stellarton.

"Encouraging the public sector to buy more from local businesses is an important part of economic growth," said Richard Hurlburt, Minister of Economic Development. "These trade shows are one of the ways we can showcase the variety of products and services available from Nova Scotia businesses."

The show will help vendors learn how to increase sales by selling to government. They can meet buyers face-to-face to exchange information on products and services.

Eighty per cent of the $1 billion that the public sector spends annually on goods, services, and construction is purchased from Nova Scotia businesses.

The trade show is co-hosted by the Department of Economic Development and the Pictou Regional Development Commission.

"We are pleased to be partnering with Nova Scotia Economic Development to bring the trade show to our region," said Lisa MacDonald, executive director of the Pictou Regional Development Commission. “The trade show helps Pictou County businesses understand the opportunities available to sell to the public sector."

The province's supplier development program encourages Nova Scotia companies to sell to government. It helps small-business operators learn how to bid on government tenders and provides outreach services and community workshops on how to access business opportunities with government.

For more information on supplier development, visit the website at www.gov.ns.ca/tenders/supplierdevelopment.