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NLIS 3
November 15, 2001
(Industry, Trade and Rural Development)

Newfoundland and Labrador companies making strides in Atlanta
during trade mission

Newfoundland and Labrador companies participating in a trade mission to Atlanta are reporting a successful three days of business meetings with their counterparts in the region. The trade mission, which runs from November 13-15, is the second Team Canada Atlantic trade mission to Atlanta this year.

Lloyd Matthews, Minister of Mines and Energy, joined the Newfoundland and Labrador delegation in Atlanta yesterday to represent Industry, Trade and Rural Development Minister Beaton Tulk. He addressed Team Canada Atlantic delegates and Atlanta businesses at a Taste of Atlantic Canada food promotion event last night.

"It is exciting to talk to these companies and hear about the progress they are making in this market," said Mr. Matthews. "It is just another testament to the quality of products and services provided by our Newfoundland and Labrador companies."

The Newfoundland and Labrador companies participating in the trade mission to Atlanta are: Atlantic Communications Enterprises Limited, St. John's; Exploits Centre for Information Technology Excellence, Grand Falls-Windsor; IDON EAST Corporation, St. John's; RADAC Group Inc., St. John's; Spiderwise Incorporated, St. John's; Flynn's Winery and Distillery, Shoal Harbour; TNB Laboratories Inc., St. John's; Infotech Canada, St. John's; and Telelink, The Call Centre Inc., St. John's. Business profiles of the companies are available at www.teamcanadaatlantic.com.

IDON East president, Cathy Favre, sees specific potential for IT companies in the Atlanta region: "There�s great opportunity for Atlantic Canadian IT companies in this region. The technology community in Atlanta is very receptive and they want to do business with Canadian companies. They are ready to partner with us. IDON East will definitely be back to Atlanta to pursue these opportunities."

Jim Parsons, president of New Found Foods Inc., said he is very pleased with the progress his company has made during this trade mission: "Our first meeting was with a company that markets in excess of $300 million U.S. During that meeting they indicated that they wanted to purchase our line of value-added seafood products and they are also interested in developing additional seafood products. They placed an order at our very first meeting."

New Found Foods Inc., was one of two Newfoundland and Labrador companies featured at the Taste of Atlantic Canada food promotion event, which was designed to promote Atlantic Canadian hospitality and food products. The other Newfoundland and Labrador company featured at the event was Flynn�s Winery and Distillery.

Leroy Flynn, president of Flynn�s Winery and Distillery, said the mission and food promotion event surpassed his expectations. "When we came down to Atlanta, our only expectation was to learn about this market and really to get our feet wet. Instead, we have established significant contacts and identified several potential distributors. At the Taste of Atlantic Canada food event, in particular, we made four important contacts, outside of the scheduled business meetings."

The goal of the Team Canada Atlantic trade mission to Atlanta is to create new business partnerships, increase trade and investment and build on the development of strategic alliances between Atlantic Canadian and southeast United States companies.

Team Canada Atlantic's trade mission to Atlanta is organized by ACOA, the four Atlantic Provinces, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Industry Canada and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.

Photo #3: Mouth watering samples of seafood products produced by New Found Foods Inc. are showcased at the Taste of Atlantic Canada food promotion event, which took place during the Team Canada Atlantic trade mission to Atlanta. (November 15, 2001)

Media contact: Josephine Cheeseman, Communications, (709) 729-4570.

2001 11 15                           12:35 p.m.