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Home  Open for Business Key Sectors Knowledge-based Industries (KBI) / Customer Service Centres
Open for Business
Key Sectors in the Miramichi Area
Knowledge-based Industries (KBI) / Customer Service Centres
 The Miramichi has established a budding IT sector with particular strengths
in multi-media web design, animation and e-learning sub-sectors. The main
reason for this strength is the local Community College and its Multimedia
program. The region has also established a foothold in the customer service
center business. Building on this foundation will serve to provide an important
assist to the region as it transitions to a more diversified and sustainable
economy.
Currently the ICT sector is comprised of 22 businesses that employ a maximum
of 923 people (4.98% of the region’s total labour force).
The traditional side of the industry, in areas such as public and private
post-secondary training, continues to get good market support. It is one
of the few areas of the economy where tuition (revenue) gets collected before
services are rendered. In addition, in a rapidly changing economy and technological
environment, there is a constant need for life long learning.”
According to a recent (March 18th, 2003) study by IDC Canada, worldwide
IT spending is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4% reaching US $1 trillion
by 2005. IT spending in Canada over the next 5 years is projected to total
$194 billion compared to $154 billion over the last five years according
to Vito Mabrucco of IDC Canada.
Given the pervasive nature of the Knowledge Based Industries, there is a
high degree of importance to the regional economy. IT touches every sector.
As well, education and training touches every sector. The need for IT and
IT support will grow as society experiences greater connectivity and the
convergence of technologies. The key learning from this is to broaden the
scope of the KBI. The extended network should include “IT” in
its traditional sense where application development, networking, computer
sales and repair and all associated activity are included (KBI Sector Task
Group).
This broadened scope increases membership, affords the group a greater degree
of critical mass, enables awareness and networking in the pursuit of new
opportunities and promotes an upwardly integrated means of creating awareness
across all sectors.
Despite its size and relative fragility, this sector has a number of strengths:
- NBCC Miramichi graduates individuals who are ready to work in this industry
- Region is attractive to potential firms (quality of life, bilingualism,
etc.)
- World class internet infrastructure (world wide electronic linkages)
- NRC contact
- Support from NBCC Miramichi for training needs
- Good base of knowledge workers
- Strong network of opportunities (with other industries in the community)
- Active organized Industry group – Shared Visions Inc.
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