15 March 2011
Florida’s economic development group Enterprise Florida has opened a Canadian office in Montreal, aiming to boost trade and international business with the Sunshine State.
The office is Enterprise Florida’s first in the Canadian province of Quebec. Enterprise Florida already has an office in Canada’s Ontario province.
Canada is the top trade partner for the United States and for Florida, based on destination and origination of goods. The northern nation is the top source of tourists to Florida, No. 2 in foreign-direct investment in the state and the No. 3 market for Florida-origin exports, Enterprise Florida said in a statement.
Leading the new office in Montreal is veteran economic development professional Frédérick Bernard. He spent the last four years as president of Montreal-based CIDEP Consultants, which specializes in trade and investment promotion.
He also has been a project manager and export agent with the Montreal Branch of the French Chamber of Commerce and the business development manager for the Economic Affairs Department of Quebec's government office in Paris.
Contact information for the new Montreal office is Enterprise Florida, 1274 Jean-Talon East, Suite 202,
Montreal, QC, Canada H2R 1W3; phone: 647-723-2157; fax: 514-666-9872; email: ; Web site: www.eflorida.com/canada.