May 3, 1999
(Industry, Trade and Technology)

The following statement was issued today by Sandra Kelly, Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I would like to update honourable members on two very successful trade missions which are set to yield dividends for Newfoundland and Labrador businesses.

From April 12 to the 15, 11 Newfoundland and Labrador companies took part in an intensive trade mission to New England. This was a well-structured initiative of the four Atlantic Provinces and the Government of Canada. It featured the Atlantic Premiers and 41 companies from their provinces uniting to form the "Team Atlantic" trade mission.

Over a four-day period, our Newfoundland and Labrador companies took part in pre-arranged meetings in Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

These companies demonstrated great energy and commitment to their ventures, and between them conducted 90 business meetings within the four-day mission.

This mission was representative of our dynamic economy, with its blend of both new and traditional sectors. Company products and services ranged from food production to clothing to information technology.

It was a pleasure to assist these companies in making their business contacts, and see the enthusiasm our New England trading partners have for Newfoundland and Labrador products and services.

Team Atlantic received significant financial support from the Canada/Atlantic Provinces COOPERATION Agreement on International Business Development.

Following the New England Mission, 14 companies took part in a Business Mission to Ireland organized by the St. John's Board of Trade and Ireland Business Partnerships, which ran from April 16 to April 23.

I should note that two of these companies also took part in the Team Atlantic mission to New England.

The mission to Ireland was also led by Premier Tobin, and stemmed directly from the Memorandum of Understanding on Economic Co-operation signed between Ireland and Newfoundland and Labrador in 1996.

Agreements linked to our cultural ties, exchanges in research and development and technology transfers all figured prominently in the Ireland business mission.

These two trade missions featured a total of 23 Newfoundland and Labrador companies with determination, vision, and confidence in their products.

These companies made a significant commitment of their time and resources to join in these missions, and worked to make each an unqualified success.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Business community is a full partner in our efforts to maximize Newfoundland and Labrador's position in the global marketplace, and I look forward to their participation in future missions.

I would like to recognize the participants of both trade missions, some of whom are here in the gallery this afternoon:

Gary Follett from FGA Consulting Engineers;
Hilda Pollard from the Tourism Training Institute;
Randy Gillespie and Ron Newhook from the Canadian Centre for Marine Communications;
Vince Withers and Kirk Tilley with Ireland Business Partnerships;
Gail Ryan and Bruce Tilley with the St. John'=s Board of Trade;
John Drover with the Newfoundland Environmental Industries Association;
Peter Austin, of Austin Advertising;
Dianna Day and Bruce Day from Infomedia and
Kevin Bussey from True North Springs.

I would like to thank each of the trade mission participants for taking the time out of their busy schedules to be here this afternoon.

In the coming months, we will be intensifying our focus on these two key markets, Ireland and New England, and the very real opportunities that they represent.

For the information of honourable members, and the media, I am tabling a list of the 23 companies who took part in these missions.

New England:

Austin Advertising (1985) Ltd.
Computers and Communications Ltd.
Genesis Organic
Infomedia Services Inc.
INNOVA Multimedia Ltd.
NewTech Instruments Ltd.
Purity Factories Limited
Stitches from Salmonier Inc.
True North Springs
Wide Body R.V. Industries Ltd.
xwave solutions

Ireland:

Canadian Centre for Marine Communications (CCMC)
Compusult Ltd.
EDM Consulting
FGA Consulting
Genesis Organic
Guigne International
SCC Environmental
Tourism Training Institute
xwave solutions
Ernst and Young LLP
The Bristol Group of Companies
Connections Research
Rink Rat Productions
Companion Films

1999 05 03 4:15 p.m.