A Message from ONB CEO Traci Simmons

It’s an exciting time to lead the agency responsible for economic development in our province. Despite the challenges of the past three years, new opportunities have arisen for New Brunswick. Our population is growing, and so are our businesses. There is much to celebrate, but much work to be done if we are to continue closing the prosperity gap with the rest of Canada.

2023 brought with it many great business success stories, most notably from within our priority sectors. The province’s cybersecurity sector got another boost with the arrival of companies like Lastwall Networks and Thales Group, while manufacturers like Greystone Energy and technology firms like Four Eyes Financial continued to grow their teams with support from ONB. The energy sector was a red-hot topic in 2023 as hydrogen and nuclear energy continued to be top-of-mind. The importance of this sector to the province’s future continues to grow as innovative clean energy solutions take centre stage. These happenings are highlighted below in our top ONB news stories for the year.

ONB not only works with New Brunswick businesses, but we also celebrate them. The 2023 NB Export Awards (the 55th edition!) once again recognized those companies seeing success in reaching new international markets. This year’s show also saw the addition of the Sustainable Exporter of the Year Award, which recognizes a company that has leveraged sustainable practices to enable export growth. Meanwhile, to enhance retention of our students, our NB Proud Awards provided five ambitious high school graduates with $2,000 to help them continue their education at home in New Brunswick.

I would like to thank you, our clients, partners, and stakeholders for your ongoing dedication to New Brunswick. You helped make 2023 a tremendous year for this province. We look forward to an exciting 2024 working alongside you.

Click here to read our latest ONB newsletter, Business Matters.

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