Selling Goods and Services to Government

The province is helping Guysborough-area 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 meet with local business operators at a trade show on Tuesday, June 17, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion, 10628 Hwy. 16, Guysborough.

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

"Businesses in Nova Scotia offer some of the most innovative products and services in the world," said Economic Development Minister Angus MacIsaac. "The province is pleased to provide a forum for public-sector purchasers to discover these products and to help local enterprises expand their markets."

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 Guysborough County Regional Development Authority.

"We are pleased that the provincial government has taken the initiative to come to our area to help local businesses sell their products and services to the public sector," said regional development authority executive director Dan Gillis. "Our businesses are confident that this trade show will open up new opportunities and experiences for them."

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, see the website at www.gov.ns.ca/tenders/supplierdevelopment.