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N.S. BUSINESS INC. -- Research In Motion Officially Opens for Business in Nova Scotia
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Location: Blogs News |
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| Posted by: ITNovaScotia Admin |
Thursday, April 20, 2006 |
HALIFAX, April 20 /CNW/ - The company that brought BlackBerry technology
to the world has opened the doors on a new technical support operations centre
in Halifax.
The Research In Motion (RIM) support centre officially opened today,
April 20, with more than 50 employees already in place to provide technical
services in support of RIM's global operation.
Premier Rodney MacDonald; Peter MacKay, federal Minister of Foreign
Affairs and ACOA; Jim Balsillie, chairman and co-CEO of Research In Motion
Ltd.; and Stephen Lund, president and CEO of Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI)
marked the milestone with a ribbon cutting at RIM's initial Halifax site at 36
Solutions Dr.
"RIM is renowned for its innovation, drive and energy," said Mr.
MacDonald. "The same characteristics describe Nova Scotia's talented IT
professionals. We're proud to see our talented Nova Scotia workforce engaged
in this progressive, world leading company."
A significant addition to the province's robust information technology
(IT) and business community, RIM is creating 1,200 new jobs over a five-year
period at its technical support operations centre in Halifax.
"As an undisputed global leader in mobile communications, RIM's success
has put Canadian innovation on the world map," said Mr. MacKay. "There are no
boundaries to where RIM can take its growth, and the company's new Halifax
operation will help fuel its ongoing success."
RIM announced its new Nova Scotia centre last November. The company's
expansion was undertaken with the help of a $14-million performance-based
payroll rebate through Nova Scotia's business development agency, NSBI, and a
$5-million financial package, including recruitment and training incentives,
from the province's Office of Economic Development.
"Nova Scotia's strong post secondary research environment and talented IT
workforce have provided us with a fantastic labour base for recruitment," said
Mr. Balsillie. "In Halifax, we have found a vibrant and creative IT community
to validate our decision to make Nova Scotia a location of growth for our
rapidly expanding global operations." The IT professionals at RIM's Nova
Scotia home will be part of a dynamic company that has created one of the
world's most compelling and rapidly adopted technologies.
"NSBI, on behalf of the business and IT communities in Nova Scotia, is
proud to welcome RIM to the province," said Mr. Lund. "The reason leading
companies like RIM are choosing Nova Scotia is simple: world-class people and
competitive business advantages for IT growth."
RIM is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative
wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. BlackBerry
is the world leading wireless enterprise solution. Developed by RIM, it keeps
mobile professionals connected to people and information. Since launching
BlackBerry in 1999, RIM's customer base has grown to more than five million
BlackBerry subscribers and is supported on carrier networks around the world.
Nova Scotia Business Inc. is the private sector-led business development
agency for Nova Scotia. NSBI is the investment attraction arm of the province
and helps companies in Nova Scotia meet their growth potential through
business advisory, export development and financial services.
For further information: Media Contact: Nova Scotia Business Inc.,
Paul Doucet, (902) 401-1692, E-mail: doucetp@gov.ns.ca; Tenille Kennedy,
Research In Motion, (519) 888-7465 ext: 3684; ACOA, Chris Brooks,
(902) 426-4790; Office of the Premier, Craig Beaton, (902) 424-3669
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