Québec establishes the Centre de valorisation internationale de l’expertise publique québécoise

Québec, January 18, 2007 – The École nationale d’administration publique (ENAP), Ministère du Développement économique, de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation and Ministère des Relations internationales announce a partnership agreement for the creation of the Centre de valorisation de l’expertise publique québécoise.

The partnership is aimed at encouraging the use of Québec public expertise in international development projects that build on Québec’s areas of excellence. Accordingly, the Centre will make available the know-how developed by Québec governmental departments and agencies for international development projects supported by international financial institutions, multilateral development banks and foreign governments. For this type of project, the Centre will also promote expertise sharing between the public sector and Québec institutional and business milieus.

Simon Chabot, executive in residence at ENAP, will be at the helm of the Centre, where his extensive experience in the Québec senior public service will be put to good use.

Concerted government action

The creation of the Centre is one of the initiatives stemming from Québec’s International Policy launched in May 2006. Coordinated by the Ministère des Relations internationales, the Policy is designed to contribute to international solidarity as well as Québec growth and prosperity. It directs the Québec contribution to international solidarity toward human resource training and governance capability development, two areas where Québec expertise is especially sought.

For the Ministère du Développement économique, de l’Exportation et de l’Innovation, the partnership with the Centre is in step with efforts to diversify Québec exports, develop new markets and bolster Québec’s economic influence on the international stage. The Department favours close collaboration between business circles, departments and public agencies with a view to encouraging expertise sharing, an approach well suited to market globalization.

Finally, ENAP’s leading-edge expertise in international development activities makes it a strategic partner for the Québec government. ENAP’s approach is four-pronged: spreading continuing education programs in the field of public administration, providing support to training institutions, advising governments in matters of public sector governance and reform, and studying the effects of globalization on the State’s role and on public policies in Québec.

A key role

The Centre de valorisation internationale de l’expertise publique québécoise intends to promote Québec know-how to foreign governments, business groups, institutions, and main financial backers and material donors, thus complementing the actions already carried out by the Québec government abroad. The Centre will also ensure the smooth coordination and management of international development projects. Furthermore, since the Centre will be part of ENAP, it will benefit from the educational institution’s resources. A steering committee made up of representatives of the three organizations will establish the Centre’s directions and priorities.

An annual contribution has been set for the three-year partnership agreement: $100 000 from the Ministère des Relations internationales and $60 000 from the Ministère du Développement économique, de l’Innovation et de l’Exportation. Full information on the Centre de valorisation internationale de l’expertise publique québécoise is available at www.cvi.enap.ca.

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