Prince Edward Island will play host to the largest Information Technology event in Canada in 2002. Softworld is a global IT business development forum which paves the way for partnerships with IT companies around the world. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Pat Binns, Premier of Prince Edward Island; George Proud, MP for Hillsborough on behalf of the Government of Canada; and Hon. Mike Currie, Minister of Development and Technology together with Mike Ives, President of the Information Technologies Association of PEI (ITAP) and representatives from the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) and The Atlantic Softworld Society (TASS).
"Due to the hard work of partners in promoting the technology industry in PEI, we will host the world," says Premier Binns. "In September 2002, PEI will be the centre of international attention as more than 50 countries and 1000 IT companies will be represented at Softworld 2002 in PEI. Long known as a place to showcase potatoes and golf, the world will now bear witness to a showcase of technology and innovation in PEI."
The Prince Edward Island team won the bid for the 2002 event in May and will spend the next two years planning and preparing for this world class event.
"Knowledge-based industries are making significant contributions to our economic growth in Prince Edward Island and across Canada," said George Proud. "Events such as Softworld 2002 foster that growth by offering an incredible opportunity for businesses to network, market their products and services, and establish invaluable relationships."
The Softworld 2002 planning committee has set forth an ambitious plan of hosting the best Softworld event ever.
"ITAP and its partners are undertaking a very ambitious task and, with our past successes such as IT Week and strong delegations at previous Softworld events, we have shown our dedication to the technology industry and our ability to create world class technology innovations," says Mike Ives, President of ITAP.
Along with its partners, the Information Technologies Association of PEI (ITAP) will act as host for Softworld 2002.
"Recently Charlottetown was honoured as one of 12 Smart Communities initiative. Hosting Softworld 2002 is just one more example of the innovation, technology and creativity which exist in Charlottetown. From an economic perspective, this event will provide significant spin-off benefits, which are appreciated especially during the shoulder season," says Mayor MacDonald.
The primary objective of Softworld is to foster alliances between Canadian IT companies and potential world-wide partners interested in helping to market, distribute or co-develop and support information technology. Softworld promotes Canada as an international technology and market leader in information technology. Softworld also provides Canadian IT company personnel with opportunities to network and discuss technological issues and opportunities with their peers and potential partners.
Softworld was founded in 1991 by the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC), British Columbia's IT association and entrepreneurs. The success of the initial event in Vancouver laid the groundwork for a subsequent event in 1993 and the expansion to the east coast of Canada in 1994. Since then, the event has alternated between Vancouver and locations in Atlantic Canada. Over eight years, the Softworld event has increased its attendance by over 46 per cent.
Softworld 2000 will be hosted in Halifax in October and in Vancouver in November 2001. Team PEI is planning to present a strong Island delegation and to promote the IT industry in PEI.