Selling Goods and Services to Government

The province is helping Halifax area businesses sell more goods and services to the public sector.

Buyers from municipal, provincial and federal governments, universities, colleges, school boards and health authorities, are meeting with local business operators at a trade show today, Oct. 21, at the Dartmouth Sportsplex.

"It's important for government to be aware of the many innovative Nova Scotia businesses offering top-notch goods and services," said Economic Development Minister Angus MacIssac. "The connections made at today's trade show help to strengthen the economy and create prosperity."

The trade show will help businesses learn how to increase sales by selling to government and publicly funded agencies. They can meet buyers face-to-face to exchange information on products and services.

Eighty per cent of the $1 billion spent by the public sector annually on goods, services and construction is purchased from Nova Scotia businesses.

The trade show is hosted by the Department of Economic Development. It 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.

More information on supplier development is available on the department's website at www.gov.ns.ca/tenders/supplierdevelopment .