Last Thursday, the Hong Kong Canada Business Association, Junior Division (JHKCBA), Global China Connection McGill (GCC), the Asia Pacific Law Association of McGill (APLAM), and SSMU partnered with the Ministère dudéveloppement
The MDEIE, a branch of the Quebec provincial government, exists to promote economic well-being, specifically by encouraging development and innovation as a result of collaboration between players in diverse sectors. Cormier, a member of the MDEIE, was also the chief co-ordinator of a recent delegation of Quebec business representatives led by Quebec Premier Jean Charest. As part of that delegation, the government sent him to various economic centres of China, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenyang.
Cormier spoke about the mission and how the general challenges faced by China and Quebec are related. He first gave students a brief background of China’s unique issues as a developing nation, and then emphasized the role Quebec could play in forging a mutually beneficial economic partnership with the emerging superpower. He described Chinese, Quebec, and other international engineers working side-by-side at a Bombardier factory in Shenyang as a prime example of that sort of collaboration.
“We’re going to grow together and build together,” Cormier forecasted. “If a company devises a business plan that doesn’t include a China section, they are making a big mistake.”
The event gave McGill students the chance to learn more about Sino-Quebec economic relations and possible career-related opportunities. Linda El Halabi, president of GCC’s McGill chapter emphasized the importance of the event for students.
“China’s importance for North American companies cannot be overstated,” she said. “In recognition of this reality, speaker events such as [this one] allow McGill students to better understand what steps the Quebec government has taken towards pursuing stronger economic and diplomatic ties with China, and to evaluate these steps.”
Students were engaged both during and after the presentation. Cormier also pointed out booming sectors significant to Sino-Quebec relations that would be of great potential for graduating students to work in, particularly the aerospace and green sectors.
“Mr. Cormier’s presentation made many students who are interested in China aware of what opportunities are presented to them both in the public and private sectors,” El Halabi said. “GCC believes raising awareness about these growing opportunities through events like these is a good way to build students’ interest in China.”
The speaker event was followed by a networking session with members of McGill’s Desautels Faculty of Management and student groups that hosted the event.
