Defence spending, exporting and business succession planning to keep companies Canadian-owned topped the agenda Thursday when the BDC’s leader visited Winnipeg.

Isabelle Hudon, chief executive of the Business Development Bank of Canada, addressed entrepreneurs during a Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce event at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

The national bank is looking to invest in companies producing “dual-use” products, Hudon said, meaning goods used both for national security and by civilians.

Ensuring Canada’s small and medium businesses are part of value chains on large contracts, like submarine creation, is also a priority, Hudon told a reporter post-speech.

“We will start by better understanding what military in Canada needs to solve for and what they need to buy,” Hudon said.

Efforts h

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