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NLIS 3
March 1, 2001
(Forest Resources and Agrifoods)
 

Firms giving taste of Atlantic flavour to the world

Over 25 Atlantic food and beverage companies will soon have the chance to showcase their products to more than 12,000 visitors and prospective buyers at the North American premiere of one of the world's largest trade shows.

With funding support from the Government of Canada and the four Atlantic provinces through the Cooperation Agreement on International Business Development, representatives from companies across the Atlantic region will have the opportunity to initiate new contacts and present their products in Montreal at the International Food, Beverage, Wine and Spirits Exhibition, known by its French-language acronym SIAL, March 4 - 6.

This premiere event will mark the first time SIAL has been held in North America, having enjoyed enormous success in Paris, Argentina, Singapore and China. SIAL-Montreal is expected to draw food sector decision-makers from across the globe, with a large audience from the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) market.

Food and beverage products from New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island will be promoted at the Atlantic Canada Pavilion, which will feature product sampling and cooking demonstrations by Chef Richard Chiasson, director of the Atlantic Culinary Institute in northern New Brunswick. Chiasson, a former instructor at the Atlantic Tourism Hospitality Institute's Culinary Program in Charlottetown, will be using food and beverage products of the participating Atlantic companies during food preparation demonstrations.

Also adding regional flavour to the Atlantic Canada Pavilion will be P.E.I. fiddler and step dancer Sheila MacKenzie, creating the atmosphere of a real down east kitchen party.

In addition to those Atlantic firms exhibiting in the regional showcase, more than 30 other Atlantic Canadian industry players will be at SIAL-Montreal to participate in a market information program organized by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Atlantic Canada Export Club. The group will participate in a series of workshops aimed at fostering potential trade partnerships within North America through collaborative production and distribution, new technology, investment and strategic alliance agreements.

As part of the information program, over 50 Canadian Trade Commissioners from abroad will be on hand at an "Export Caf�" event to discuss opportunities for Canadian companies. Export-oriented businesses will be offered a seminar on the use of information technology as an effective tool in researching new markets and products, and as a practical way of reaching a larger number of buyers through the Internet.

The information program will also provide workshops on investment, food distribution and food safety import and export rules within North America for companies interested in expanding their markets.

Participants in the three-day event are now gearing up to make a lasting impression of Atlantic Canada on the thousands of business contacts and visitors expected at SIAL-Montreal, while aiming to bring home valuable contracts and industry know-how to further boost production and sales at home.

Media contacts:
Michael Cond� 
Atlantic Canada Export Club
(902) 893-7539

Sean Barry
(709) 729-0634

Sonia Glover-Sullivan
Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods
(709) 729-6183

2001 03 01                          10:50 a.m.


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