Prince George, B.C. – Initiatives Prince George’s annual market expansion forum is drumming up some new interest this year.

“I’m actually very pleased to see that there is a significant amount of new companies and sort of mid-sized companies that are attending this year for the first time,” says CEO Heather Oland.

“And also that we have so many repeat customers because that demonstrates to me that the business community finds us a very valuable resource of information for them.”

She says the goal of the forum is to ask major project proponents and significant companies in the region to outline the scope of their projects.

“And then the buckets of procurement along the timeline of those projects as well as clarification requirements and the process by which suppliers can become preferred suppliers or be made aware of the bid opportunities.”

Oland says an added attraction to this year’s event is their keynote speaker, Stewart Muir, executive director of Vancouver based Resource Work.

“The purpose of that organization is to increase awareness and education throughout B.C. about the importance of the resource sectors to the health and prosperity of the B.C. economy. So his address is going to be very interesting and thought provoking.”

She expects around 150 companies to take part and notes the deadline to register is January 15th.

The forum runs all day January 20th at the Ramada Hotel.