Quebec’s Business Abroad Resumes Amid Uncertainty: Minister of International Relations Optimistic

Quebec’s business abroad is picking up again; Minister of International Relations Martine Biron believes that the province is doing well, despite the uncertain context.

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At the head of the Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie for a year, Martine Biron wanted to make up for the delay accumulated during the pandemic.

Pre-pandemic figures showed Quebec exports at $113 billion. These figures were exceeded in 2022; “mission accomplished” according to the minister.

Martine Biron highlights the stable democracy of Quebec, in addition to hydroelectricity and the battery sector; factors justifying the increase in the amount of exports in the province.

“It gives us opportunities when we go to the United States. When I go to the United States, I go there a lot because it’s really our main partner, they want to know what we’re doing. They are interested, for example, in our innovation zones,” she says.

“We are in the process of developing relationships that make the Americans say: we could perhaps get our supplies there (Quebec), rather than getting our supplies elsewhere or in China,” adds the politician.

Areas of turbulence

Uncertainties are still high, with this conflict in the Middle East. Plans have been disrupted in recent weeks. The minister was to go to Tel Aviv to inaugurate the new Quebec office; a postponed meeting. The delegate in Israel works from Quebec.