News and Features
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BC
Hub is a network. A place where business and research from around
the province come together to access a coordinated pool of
resources. The goal is to create a collaborative social environment,
both virtual and tangible, where innovation is promoted as a result
of people interacting at a social and business level. BC Hub is designed to
stimulate economic growth and build a sustainable industry—all based
upon BC’s identified technological strengths. Ference Weicker &
Company is in the process of preparing a feasibility study and
preparing a business plan for the network. For more information on BC
Hub, please visit the website developed for the project at
http://bchub.ca/
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FWCO is leading the
development of a comprehensive technology strategy for the
Province of British Columbia that outlines
priorities, commitments and goals of the government, industry and
other key stakeholders in promoting development of the technology
industry. The
technology strategy will:
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Use the results of recent research to identify,
analyze and prioritize the key issues facing the province.
n
Present a vision and set of objectives that represent
targets for the enablement and growth of the technology industry in
British
Columbia. The objectives will be actionable,
time-bound and measurable. The objectives will focus on a range, or
cross-section, of issues such as employment, revenues, R&D,
technology transfer including commercialization, trade development,
academic programs and enrolment including graduate students,
taxation including tax credits, access to capital, human resource
development, and infrastructure.
n Define the strategies
that will be implemented towards achievement of these objectives.
The strategies will represent commitments of time, resources and
money.
n Outline specific actions
and initiatives, consistent with the stated strategies, for each of
the identified objectives. The action plans will define
responsibilities, resource requirements and timelines. The plan will
also assign responsibility for the development of these detailed
action plans to be implemented under the strategy.
For more information on
the project and to learn how you can provide input, please visit the
project website at http://www.techstrategy.ca.
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The BC tree fruit industry creates
significant economic activity in the growing, packing, processing,
selling and transporting of tree fruits. In addition, the orchards
serve as a major tourism draw by providing a park-like setting for
tourists and residents to enjoy. In recent years, the economic
health of the industry has become a major concern as BC growers,
particularly in the apple sector, face increasing competition. In
response to these conditions, the British Columbia Fruit Growers
Association commissioned development of a strategic plan for the
tree fruit industry.
The project is being implemented in three phases. To find out more, please
visit the website at http://www.treefruits.ca.
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The agri-food industry is highly valued by
British Columbians because of its impact on our economy, our
food-security, and our physical environment. While we remain a net food
importer, the industry serves as a very important source of food
products and employment for British Columbians. As concerns about food
safety increase so to does the importance we place on having a
strong domestic industry that provides a measure of food
security. We highly
value agriculture land because it benefits the environment and
protects significant areas of our green space from further urban
development.
The agri-food industry is undergoing a
period of unprecedented change. BC producers face increasing
pressure from low-cost competitors at a time when the costs of many
of our key inputs are increasing. Consumers are becoming more
demanding, product life cycles are shortening, and the level of
market segmentation is increasing. Consolidation is occurring
at all levels of the food chain. Unemployment rates in BC
have declined to a generational low, making it hard to attract and
keep the workers we need. Environmental pressures and incidence of
urban/rural conflicts are increasing. Technology is changing how
we develop, produce and market our products.
How well we react to these changes will
determine the future of the agri-food industry in BC. With this in mind, the
Investment Agriculture Foundation of British Columbia, the BC
Agriculture Council, the BC Food Processors Association and other
organizations came together recently to commission the Focus on the
Future project.
Specifically, the project was designed
to:
n
Identify and
assess key issues that are strategically important to the overall
long-term success of the BC agri-food industry.
n
Identify specific
strategies and meaningful actions that industry, government and the
Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC can pursue to assist
industry to expand, diversify and enhance its competitive position
and build a stronger industry future.
The project was undertaken in four phases
over a period of ten months.
A copy of the resulting report is available at
http://www.iafbc.ca/current.initiative.htm. The recommendations are now
being implemented by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC as
well as the Federal and Provincial
Government.
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Linx BC is a
public/private partnership, involving the Province of
British
Columbia and a group of member
communities, which was established in 1998 with the objective of
attracting call centres into BC as a means to stimulate economic
recovery. The
organization has been very successful, attracting 10 call centres to
BC representing over 8,500 sustainable new jobs. The organization
has received awards from the Economic Development Association of BC
(EDABC), Business Facilities Magazine (Best Economic Development
Program in North America in 2001)
and the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Program
Award (Platinum in 2003).
Linx BC is now looking to broaden its model to
additional sectors of the economy, with an initial focus on the
advanced manufacturing, agri-food and tourism sectors. Extending the model to
additional sectors requires some changes to the business model and
structure, given that the organization must now be capable of
targeting multiple sectors, balancing multiple initiatives each
year, and serving a larger membership
base.
Ference Weicker &
Company has been working with Linx BC to define the new business
model and structure that will be employed by the organization,
develop a marketing strategy for attracting members, develop a
marketing strategy for attracting investment to the member
communities, and prepare an action plan.
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