Page 30 - FDI Alliance International Magazine. Winter 2020 Digital Interactive Issue.

CALL FOR ACTION - #ENSEMBLEINC

HOW ACTIVELY ACTING IN FAVOUR OF DIVERSITY CAN LEAD TO ATTRACTING

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS AND TALENT

Several studies have shown that diversity in all its forms (gender, age, sexual at the heart of Québec’s economic relaunch efforts.
orientation, psychological and physical traits, cultural backgrounds, beliefs, Many key players of the Québec business community were quick to unite
etc.) encourages different ideas and perspectives, making organizations and join their voices to the movement launch. On September 30, 33
more innovative and profitable. Moreover, given current competition for signatories published an open letter and a website in which they made
talents, companies that will truly embody a diverse and inclusive business concrete commitments to diversity and offered a toolbox for companies
culture will be able to attract and retain top talents. With more innovation wishing to make a difference (www.ensembleinc.ca). They also called on
and top talent, diverse and inclusive business community will be successful all members of the Québec business community to join the movement
in attracting foreign direct investments. by making clear and quantifiable commitments aimed at diversity within
their organizations and / or in the business community.
Despite all the studies, there is still much progress to be made in this
area within the decision-making bodies of organizations. A multitude of Becoming part of #EnsembleInc Movement is easy, free and impactful:
conscious and unconscious barriers, such as bias, discrimination, and anyone can publish a concrete and quantifiable commitment in favour
racism, are still too present. These limiting beliefs and ignorance are of diversity on Linkedin (using the hashtag #ensembleinc). The person
detrimental to the promotion and enforcement of diversity in companies, making a public commitment ends his.her post by challenging someone
and therefore to the performance and development of organizations. else from his.her network. As a result, a domino effect ensures a broader
consideration of diversity within the business community.
#ENSEMBLEINC: A CALL FOR ACTION
Only two months after its official launch, more than a hundred leaders
When political discussions began to focus on economic relaunch in from multinationals, large corporations, SMEs, public organizations,
Québec, a small group of people came together to ensure that diversity not for profit organizations and start-ups have joined the movement, by
in all its forms would be part of the equation. For these agents of change, publicly making firm commitments to diversity in Québec.
there was an urgent need to act and unite forces to ensure the future of
Québec organizations. They also believed Québec had everything it ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AS KEY PLAYERS
takes to position itself as a world leader of successful economic recovery.
Beyond the tragic aspect that this pandemic brought, COVID-19 was As economic development agencies, Montréal International, Investissement
also an opportunity to challenge the status quo. Québec International and Québec International have a key role to
play in promoting diversity. Each agency is seeking to attract foreign
With that in mind, the group rallied business leaders and launched direct investment in a particular region. While Investissement Québec
#EnsembleInc Movement, a citizen movement that aims to encourage International focuses on the entire province, the two other agencies
and promote concrete actions in favour of diversity by and for the business promote a specific metropolitan area (i.e., Montréal Metropolitan Area
community. It is a call to action in order to put equity, diversity and inclusion and Québec City Area). In addition to foreign direct investments, Montréal

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