The following statement was issued today by Beaton Tulk, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I am pleased today to update members of the House on the success of information sessions held throughout Newfoundland and Labrador in support of development of the province's manufacturing industry.

These sessions, held in October and November, were organized by the Manufacturing Forum - an initiative of government and the Alliance of Manufacturers and Exporters.

The workshops provided an opportunity for stakeholders to be introduced to the best manufacturing practices detailed in the Strategy for Small Scale Manufacturing in Newfoundland and Labrador. This strategy, announced five months ago, is one that was developed in partnership with the Manufacturers Alliance. The workshops focused on introducing practices that best encourage manufacturing and identified the supports available from the Manufacturers Alliance, educational institutions, and government to help firms adopt these best practices.

Over the past two months, information workshops were held in Grand Falls-Windsor, Plum Point, Happy-Valley/Goose Bay, St. John's, Clarenville, Marystown, and Corner Brook.

I am pleased to report that these sessions attracted upwards of 270 participants, with excellent representation from the private sector, education, and economic development agencies. Response to the workshops from the participants has also been excellent.

Government will continue as a champion for the further development of the manufacturing sector. And so we should. Permit me to share some statistics about the sector with you:

• Since 1996, manufacturing shipments have increased 20 per cent to more than $1.8 billion.

• Since 1996, full-time equivalent employment has increased to more than 17,500 - a growth of almost 20 per cent.

• Since 1996,exports have increased 25 per cent.

• In 1999 alone, from January to August, the value of all manufacturing shipments increased 10.5 per cent over the record pace achieved in 1998. Employment for the same period increased by 5.3 per cent.

• In the area of small scale manufacturing - which includes everything outside traditional resource sectors such as the fishery - there are more than 7,000 people employed - an increase of 40 per cent since 1996. That's 7,000 people employed full-time in more than 400 companies in both rural and urban areas.

The information workshops were the first steps in helping firms implement global best practices in manufacturing. With government's continued initiatives to develop the industry, small scale manufacturers in Newfoundland and Labrador will be able to thrive in an environment that enhances their efforts individually and collectively.

1999 12 07                                         4:20 p.m.