RBC sponsors Manufacturing 20/20Ottawa, November
2, 2004 - Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) today announced
RBC Financial Group as the newest sponsor for Manufacturing 20/20 - an
unparalleled consultation with Canadian manufacturers about the direction the
industry is headed and what must be done to ensure its future competitive success.
Manufacturing 20/20 is now in PHASE II, involving a series of coast-to-coast
community meetings scheduled between now and January. Manufacturers, government
officials, and other leaders from schools, research centres and the business community
will come together to discuss solutions that can be taken at a local level. "Canada's
largest business sector is evolving rapidly in the wake of many challenges - all
pointing to the need to define a vision of Canadian manufacturing for the future,"
said Perrin Beatty, president and CEO of CME. "The support of RBC Financial
Group enables us to facilitate our own solutions." "RBC is pleased
to join with Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters in this initiative. Both RBC
and CME are committed to a proactive, made-in-Canada approach, that supports the
continued success of the manufacturing sector in the long term," said Louise
Mitchell, RBC Financial Group's vice president of Business Markets. "What's
especially important about Manufacturing 20/20 is that it brings together the
people who face industry challenges on a day-to-day basis and it's their insight
and knowledge that will lead to solutions for the future." Participants
in the community meetings are being asked to respond to the challenges identified
in Phase I, which involved a series of discussions with local manufacturers in
54 communities. Phase I identified issues around the following topics: innovation
and continuous improvement; education and skills; finance and services; international
business; and municipal issues including land, infrastructure, regulations, and
taxation. RBC joins CME's continuing national sponsors: Rogers, Alcan, CGI,
Esso Imperial Oil, Mantle & Overall Communications, the Canadian Steel Producers
Association and Industry Canada. Phase II community meetings are posted
on CME's Manufacturing 20/20 website, www.cme-mec.ca.
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