For the past few years, a new kind of activity, speed business networking or speed-meeting, has become increasingly popular in the business world. This formula facilitates the development of businesses, by way of meetings limited to 15 minutes. In fact, the FNQLEDC tried out this formula at an event held this past November 19^th, in Quebec.

Our activity, which was entitled Speed-meeting Activity with the First Nations, took place within the framework of the Québec Mines + Énergie 2019, a Convention organized by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MERN). The 120 business meetings, held on one-on-one basis, made it possible for 20 Indigenous enterprises/organizations, representing four nations and 11 different communities, to meet non-Indigenous enterprises with the aim of building business relationships and discovering future business opportunities that can be beneficial for both sides. This business networking was particularly appreciated by the participants, who all expressed their interest in renewing the experience. The activity was then followed by a networking cocktail, which was attended by more than 200 persons.

On November 20^th, in the morning session, the FNQLEDC hosted a series of five conferences under the theme First Nations as a solution to the labour shortage in the mining sector. This event attracted a large number of people.  In total, close to 2000 participants attended the three-day convention, all the while circulating between the lanes of the exhibition hall.  People took the time to visit our booth and learn more about our activities, our services and First Nations in general.

As a whole, the Québec Mines + Énergie 2019 event gave greater visibility to the FNQLEDC. In addition, the first edition of our business networking was so successful, that it’s most probable that the activity will be repeated in 2020, in a reviewed and enhanced formula.

An event inspired by the concept of the Business Exchange Day

The success of this networking activity, especially at the logistical level, is due, in part, to the involvement of Ms. Chantal Hamelin, who is the Executive Director of the Secretariat to the Cree Nation /Abitibi-Temiscamingue Economic Alliance (SCNATEA). On this note, we wish to take this opportunity to thank Ms. Hamelin, who kindly shared the advice and tips learned gradually over the course of the 15 years of existence of the Business Exchange Day. As a matter of fact, I had the opportunity to attend the 16^th edition of the event, which was held this past November 27^th in Val -d’Or, with my colleague, Marie-Christine Tremblay. While Marie-Christine hosted our booth which was visited by much of the 240 persons present, I was attending the speed networking activities which included a dozen of business appointments. This well-conceived event, which attracted more than a hundred Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations, generated over 700 business meetings, from which partnerships or contracts will most probably arise.

For more information on the different activities organized by the FNQLEDC, we invite you to visit our event and training section of our Website.