GIMXPORT, an overview
GIMXPORT offers export and marketing support to enterprises based in the Gaspésie – Îles-de-la-Madeleine administrative region, a true driving force to spur economic and social development.
In addition to initiating a range of special projects, the organisation offers its members :
- Coaching and consulting services;
- Information and training sessions; and
- Trade missions for groups or individuals.
Ever attentive to its members’ needs, GIMXPORT is a unifying, entrepreneurial, visionary, proactive and impartial organisation.
Mission, vision, values…
Mission
Offer enterprises located in the Gaspésie – Îles-de-la-Madeleine administrative region a coaching service to help them export, market and commercialise their products and thus, contribute to the region’s sustainable development by improving international exchange.
Vision
Be a key international trade contact in the Gaspésie – Îles-de-la-Madeleine administrative region.
Values
GIMXPORT is an impartial and unifying organisation, attentive to its members’ needs, entrepreneurial, visionary and proactive.
Unifying :
By putting together structuring projects with enterprises that have common needs and challenges.
Attentive :
Via its mobile team, which generously shares its expertise and tailors its support to the real-life situations of the enterprises it serves.
Entrepreneurial, visionary and proactive :
With an ever-attentive eye to innovation and backed by the experience and business philosophy of its Board of Directors, whose members all head enterprises.
Impartial :
Neutral and 30% self-funded, with financial support from both the federal and provincial governments, GIMXPORT has earned the trust of business people who accept to gather at the same table with the shared goal of working to further international development.
Board of Directors
CHAIR
Guy Pardiac
Business Development Manager, Activa Environnement,
New Richmond
Vice Chair
Éric Gagné
Comptroller, Menu-Mer
Rivière-au-Renard
Secretary-Treasurer
Jocelyn Tennier
Manager, Imprimerie des Anses
Chandler
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Kathleen Létourneau
Economic Development Advisor, Ministère des Finances et de l’Économie du Québec
Mme Caroline Leclerc
Agente de concertation et de développement, Conférence régionale des élus Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Directors
Martin Crousset
Co-proprietor, Kwatroe Consultants,
Gaspé
Gaétan Denis
Proprietor, La Crevette du Nord Atlantique and Les Crustacés de Malbaie, Gaspé
Jean-François Gagné
Proprietor, Au Pic de l’Aurore,
Percé
Éric Harrisson
CEO, Habitations Mont-Carleton,
Carleton-sur-Mer
Guillaume Thibault,
Proprietor, Atkins et Frères,
Mont-Louis
Nancy Thorne
Marketing Manager, Gemini 3D,
Cap-aux-Meules
Team
The GIMXPORT is outstanding for its expertise, dynamism and character.
Gino Cyr
Executive Director 
A member of the GIMXPORT team since 2001, Gino Cyr has been its executive director since 2011. Active in economic development since the beginning of his career, this jack-of-all-trades has notably been involved in politics and headed his own enterprise. The ball carrier for numerous projects, he has an instinct for developing ideas. Supported by his regional vision and unifying nature, he heads the organisation with dedication and efficiency, while remaining profoundly human.
ANDRÉ-PIERRE ROSSIGNOL
Export advisor
Holder of a bachelor’s degree in political science (public administration profile), André-Pierre Rossignol is currently completing his master’s in management. Rational, logical and organised, he has a fine instinct for analysis. A perfectionist, attentive and helpful to both his colleagues and the members of the Association bois d’apparence Gaspésie, a group he coordinates, he is highly efficient and has a profound understanding of information and communication technologies.
PRISCILLA DOIRON
Marketing Coordinator
Holder of a master’s degree in land planning and urban development, Priscilla Doiron is energetic, committed and has tremendous drive. As a member of the GIMXPORT team, she conducts market studies, drafts business plans, marketing strategies, and sales pitches, and prospects for buyers and partnerships. Enthusiastic and positive, she thrives on challenges that she meets brilliantly by the dozens.
MATHIEU QUIRION
Financial controller
A graduate with a technical accounting degree, Mathieu Quirion is meticulous, organized and attentive. Within GIMXPORT, he acts as the financial controller who prepares financial statements, product claims and assists the team in various tasks. He is a very patient individual who generously gives up his time to help others, the support he brings to the team is considerable.
Partners and resources
GIMXPORT can count on an excellent network of partners and contributors that support enterprises in the region in their efforts to export their goods and services. Together, we offer our members effective assistance to help them reach foreign markets.
Financial partners
- Canada Economic Development for Québec Regions
- Ministère des Finances et de l’Économie
- Conférence régionale des élus Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
- Ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire
Government partners
- Government of Canada:
- Gouvernement du Québec :
Sector partners
- Bureau de promotion des produits du bois du Québec (QWEB)
- Agrifood Export Group Québec-Canada
- Commerce international Québec
Contributors
Several organisations provide services that are complementary to those offered by GIMXPORT to foster the growth of enterprises in the Gaspésie et des Îles-de-la-Madeleine administrative region. Here is a partial list:
- Centres locaux de développement (CLD)
- Dolbec International
- Femmessor Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine
- Sociétés d’aide au développement des collectivités (SADC)
BACKGROUND
GIMXPORT is a unique organisation with a most impressive track record, given its great involvement and many accomplishments. It currently has about one hundred members – most of them SMEs that export products – representing every sector of activity present in the Gaspésie – Îles-de-la-Madeleine administrative region. Its board of directors is composed of the region’s leaders, primarily entrepreneurs.
A marketing secretariat for the Gaspésie – Îles-de-la-Madeleine administrative region
Spurred by the community’s determination, the organisation emerged in the early 1990s at a time when stakeholders in various activity sectors sought to encourage in the Gaspésie – Îles-de-la-Madeleine enterprises to position themselves on the international playing field, sell their products abroad and improve the region’s economic base. Thus was born – in November 1992 – the Secrétariat à la mise en marché pour la Gaspésie et les Îles-de-la-Madeleine (SMMGIM), a not-for-profit organisation.
In October 1995, Aurèle Doucet, the organisation’s chair, tendered his resignation so he could apply for a position as the corporation’s executive director. In March 1996, he became the organisation’s first employee. The following year, SMMGIM received a major award for its regional initiative in the field of exports, the Grand prix de l’exportation: Initiative régionale en exportation presented by the Association des professionnels en développement économique du Québec. Then, in 2000, it received the Hector Fabre Award (together with a $25,000 grant), presented by the Minister of International Relations to a regional organisation that has deployed a project with an international impact for its region.
GIMXPORT: a name with a better fit
Over the years, the organisation consolidated its activities and other employees joined Aurèle Doucet, forming a strong team. In June 2008, stepping up its role as a catalyser encouraging businesses to grow by tapping into export markets, the organisation changed names and adopted a new logo, becoming GIMXPORT.
From 2010 to 2011, GIMXPORT took a giant step forwards, increasing the number of files it dealt with by 40%. Since 2010, the organisation has had a five-member team. Gino Cyr, who was development manager from 2004 to 2011, took over from Aurèle Doucet as executive director in 2011.
Over the last few years, the organisation has completed a number of export support mandates, but it now also offers considerable support to help its members market their products outside the region. This diversification became possible after a marketing advisor was hired. Another resource was also hired as a project head supporting the Association Bois d’apparence Gaspésie, an organisation mentored by GIMXPORT.
An impressive track record
Here are some of the highlights regarding GIMXPORT’s recent accomplishments :
