Selling Goods and Services to Government

The province is helping Annapolis 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 met with local business operators at a trade show Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the Annapolis Basin Conference Centre in Cornwallis.

"Small and medium-sized businesses are important to Nova Scotia's economy," said Economic and Rural Development Minister Murray Scott. "The provincial government is pleased to provide them the tools needed to sell their goods and services to the public sector."

The trade show offered businesses the opportunity to learn how to increase sales by selling to government. Face-to-face meetings with government buyers to exchange information on products and services were also arranged.

"We're extremely proud of the level of interest demonstrated by our business community," said Mike Gushue, managing director of the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency, co-sponsor of the show with the Department of Economic and Rural Development.

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 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 .