Good ideas. At the closing reception, this was the most common response to the question: "What was the one thing you took away from attending this year's Atlantic Business Summit?” If you happened to have caught the panel discussion on bringing Atlantic Canadian businesses to the global stage you would have heard an intelligent conversation regarding major issues affecting Atlantic Canadian businesses and good, perhaps great ideas on how to deal with these issues.

^{Panelists speak to a packed room at the Atlantic Business Summit. From right to left: Denise Leblanc, Paul Dube, Dan MacDonald, George Armoyan and Gordon Fullerton. Photograph taken by Andrew Spearin.}

Greg Mercer happened to be present in the room during this often opinionated panel discussion and has written his account for the Telegraph Journal. The popular panel included Paul Dube, CEO of the Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Technology Industries, George Armoyan, Chairman of Clarke Inc., Dan MacDonald, President & CEO of InNOVAcorp, and Denise LeBlanc, Q.C., Partner at McInnes Cooper.

The discussion, which was moderated by Gordon Fullerton, Associate Dean of Masters Programs at the Sobey School of Business, focused on issues ECC has touched on including out migration and the fact that Atlantic Canada needs to raise the profile of their success stories. As Mr. MacDonald commented “We’re terrible celebrators in Atlantic Canada. We’re almost too humble in saying ‘I’m sorry I was successful.’ So celebrating success is very important.” He also mentioned that understanding failures was crucial in developing new business ventures that work in the region.

When asked what it would take for immigrants to stay in the region Mr. Armoyan said the following:

"We need to create a competitive advantage," he said. "We need to stand out a little bit."

Immigrants keep leaving the region for larger centres in Canada? Make them sign contracts to stay in the province they entered through when they first immigrated to Canada, said the Armenian-born Armoyan.

Another issue that keeps Atlantic Canadian businesses from competing in the global marketplace is the relationship between Universities which the panel agreed, much to the chagrin of Mr. Fullerton, is non existent. This as well as talent attraction are key if Atlantic Canada intends on exporting to the international marketplace. Mr. Macdonald noted that “In order to create a great export company we need highly qualified people. That’s people who have the savvy and the experience and the drive to bring things to market.”

Click here to read the full length article from the Telegraph Journal.