NLIS 8
May 30, 2001
(Industry, Trade and Rural Development)

Newfoundland and Labrador Export Award winners announced

Five Newfoundland companies received awards for exporting tonight at the 17^th Newfoundland and Labrador Export Awards. The awards were presented by Beaton Tulk, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, and David Gill, Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Division, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.

Speaking at the Fairmont Newfoundland Hotel in St. John�s, Minister Tulk said: "The recipients of these awards here tonight were chosen from 82 companies that were nominated for awards. They represent excellence in their respective fields, companies that between 1992 and 2000 helped to more than double Newfoundland and Labrador�s exports to $8.2 billion. It is companies such as these that are earning our province a growing reputation for providing first-rate goods and services in the global economy."

Kenneth Budden accepted the Goods Export Award on behalf of Fogo Island Co-operative Society Ltd. of Seldom, Fogo Island. Dr. Bassem Eid accepted the Services Export Award on behalf of BAE-Newplan Group Ltd. of Mount Pearl. Paul Griffin accepted the Interprovincial Trade Award on behalf of NewTech Instruments Ltd. of St. John�s. Donald Vokey accepted the New England Trade Export Award on behalf of Northstar Technical Inc. of St. John�s. And Keith Stoodley accepted the Marconi Communications Export Award on behalf of Lotek Wireless Inc. of St. John�s.

"The Export Awards are a showcase for all exporting companies and highlight the capabilities that continue to fuel export growth in Newfoundland and Labrador. Tonight we recognized five companies for their excellence and contribution to the growing manufacturing and exporting sector. These five are examples of the many companies who are achieving success in and from our province," said Mr. Gill.

The Fogo Island Co-operative Society Ltd. has five seafood processing plants and has pioneered quality initiatives in the industry through dockside product grading systems. It exports crab and groundfish to the U.S., Japan, Taiwan, Sweden, Germany and Canada.

The BAE-Newplan Group Ltd. is an engineering and consulting firm specializing in marine infrastructure and coastal zone and fisheries management in Canada. It also provides technical assistance, training, impact studies and feasibility studies in these areas to international clients.

NewTech Instruments Ltd. manufactures electronic and electro-mechanical products under licence for companies in the defence, telecommunications and marine industries.

Northstar Technical Inc. manufactures a fishing trawl monitoring system that provides a picture of a trawl�s action and contents while in use, and also manufactures engineering systems for defence contractors.

Lotek Wireless Inc. designs and manufactures fish and wildlife satellite monitoring systems that track life forms as small as a salmon smolt or as large as a moose or a bear anywhere in the world.

Export award companies are nominated by industry associations, chambers of commerce, other companies and government agencies. Winners are chosen by a committee drawn from the provincial and federal governments and the Newfoundland and Labrador Division of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters. To be eligible, companies must have exported for at least three years outside Canada. Candidates are assessed on export sales, nature and diversity of export markets, Newfoundland and Labrador content, commitment to quality assurance, and extent of ongoing research and development.

The awards are a joint initiative of the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development and the Newfoundland and Labrador Division, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.

Photo#1(L to R) Keith Stoodley, Director, Marketing and Sales, Lotek Wireless Inc.; Kenneth Budden, Marketing Manager, Fogo Island Co-operative Society; Minister Tulk; Dave Gill, Chair of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters; Paul Griffin, Executive Vice President, NewTech Instruments Ltd; Dr. Bassem Eid, Vice-President, BAE-Newplan Group Ltd; Donald Vokey, Manager, Marketing and Sales, Northstar Technical Inc.(May 30, 2001)

Media contact:

Clifford Grinling,
Industry, Trade and Rural Development
(709) 729-7066

Sean McCarthy
Newfoundland and Labrador Division
Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
(709) 772-3682

2001 05 30 7:30 p.m.