January 21, 1998
(Executive Council)

Four Newfoundland and Labrador companies sign agreements in Argentina during Trade Team Canada Mission

Four agreements were signed in Buenos Aires by Newfoundland and Labrador companies during the 1998 Team Canada Trade Mission to South America.

Cec Rowe, President of PAMZO Enterprises, signed a letter of intent with Montana Trading S.A. for the marketing and distribution of their products in the Argentinean market. Montana Trading is a distributor of foreign manufacturers and exporters and has many years of experience in the marketing development of similar products for Proctor and Gamble in Argentina. Under the agreement, PAMZO Enterprises Inc. will supply LESSPAK Concentrate dry type detergents and Montana Trading S.A. will promote the product throughout Argentina and Mercosur countries. PAMZO Enterprises is currently selling to distributors in Canada with a new focus on the export market, particularly to areas such as Cuba, Caribbean countries, and Chile. Mr. Rowe signed a similar agreement during the initial stages of the 1998 Trade Team Canada mission in Mexico.

Alda Rodrigues, President of A.J. Maritime Inc., signed an agreement with Atkinson & Co. S.R.L. to promote trade between the two companies in their respective countries. Each party has agreed to represent each other with respect to the development of transportation services in freight forwarding, shipbroking, chartering, custom services, and warehousing. They will also be working to find partners for the supply of various commodities such as building products, food products, and machinery products. Guillermo Jorge Atkinson, President of Atkinson & Co., is expected to visit St. John's in the near future. A.J. Maritime was also a successful participant in last year's 1997 Trade Team Canada mission to Asia.

Paul Adams, Vice President of Marketing for FGA Consulting Engineers Ltd., signed a joint venture agreement today with AICC Consultores S.A., a major engineering consulting firm in Argentina, to develop and deliver engineering services and expertise. Under the agreement, AICC and FGA will market their individual and combined engineering services and expertise in Argentina. AICC is involved in the delivery of engineering and project management expertise and service to a variety of projects in the Argentinean market. FGA specializes in engineering services expertise, project management and technology transfer in fields such as structural/mechanical/civil engineering, welding technology, nondestructive evaluation, and quality control and quality assurance.

Moya Cahill, President of MNC Group, also signed an agreement with AICC Consultores S.A. The purpose of the agreement is to match the expertise of both companies in the pursuit of new opportunities in the environmental engineering/consulting sector. Premier Brian Tobin said that companies signing agreements today all demonstrate the success that can be achieved by exploring new opportunities in the global marketplace. "I commend the representatives from all of these companies for taking the initiative to export their products and services to the world. The agreements signed today will mean more business for our companies, more new wealth generated back into the provincial economy, and ultimately, more jobs for our people at home."

Contact: Heidi Bonnell, (709) 729-3960 or John Doody, (709) 729-0050.