Selling Goods and Services to Government

The province is helping Cape Breton 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 meet with local business operators at a trade show today, Sept. 30, at the Delta Sydney in Sydney. The event takes place from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

"Businesses in this province offer some of the best products and services in the world," said Justice Minister Cecil Clarke, on behalf of Economic Development Minister Angus MacIssac. "This show is a great way for local businesses to find new opportunities to help build sustainable competitiveness in our province."

The trade show will help businesses 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 Cape Breton County Economic Development Agency.

Eileen Lannon Oldford, chief executive officer at the development agency, said it provides an important networking opportunity.

"This show will help Cape Breton County businesses learn and benefit from participating in the public sector procurement process," said Ms. Lannon Oldford. "It helps our local businesses expand their markets and the Nova Scotia government is able to buy more local goods and services."

The trade show is part of the province's supplier development program that 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 .