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NLIS 2 September 9, 2002 (Industry, Trade and Rural Development) Incoming mission from Iceland
to discuss business opportunities The Eastern Newfoundland Home Builders� Association (ENHBA) will host a delegation from Iceland�s housing industry from September 15-18. The purpose of the mission is to promote Canadian housing technology and what Newfoundland and Labrador builders and suppliers have to offer, both to Iceland and to other countries in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Union (EU). Canadian wood frame construction technology offers several benefits to other countries. Canadian built homes are less expensive and can be built in half the time when compared with homes built through traditional means in other countries. In addition, Canadian housing technology offers energy efficiency, durability, flexibility, comfort, safety and a healthy indoor environment. Jane Morgan, president of the ENHBA, said that one of the benefits of membership in their association is that members will have the opportunity to participate in this incoming trade mission. "We have members who are running good businesses and providing good products and services right here in this province," said Morgan. "They are now ready to explore the potential that exporting has to offer. We are delighted to be able to make this opportunity available to them - to explore the potential of Iceland and beyond." The initiative received $63,000 in funding support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), through its Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, a $54-million comprehensive strategy to strengthen the export performance of the Atlantic region and to increase foreign direct investment. "Local companies in the construction and building products industry have proven expertise in Canadian housing technology," noted Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for ACOA. "ACOA is pleased to be supporting this export initiative, which will help develop international partnerships with Iceland and other countries in the European Free Trade Association." "The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, through the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, led an initial exploratory trade mission to Iceland in October 2001, and through this event, identified an opportunity in the housing technology sector. This led directly to the three-day incoming mission that will take place here in September," said Kelvin Parsons, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development. In addition to meetings with local home construction companies and suppliers and with provincial government officials, the itinerary for the incoming delegation also includes information seminars on Canadian housing technology, codes and standards and certification of building materials, as well as visits to several housing construction sites. A backgrounder and list of participating Newfoundland and Labrador and Icelandic organizations follows.
Rhonda Day, Executive Officer Olivia Letemplier Doug Burgess Josephine Cheeseman Backgrounder Delegates from Iceland have been invited to Newfoundland and Labrador, September 15-18, to meet with representatives from the housing industry, government departments and agencies and regulatory bodies. Through the business itinerary developed for this mission, the province�s housing industry anticipates forging mutually beneficial partnerships with Iceland with a view to pursuing business opportunities in that market and others in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and, ultimately, countries in the European Union (EU). EFTA comprises several countries: Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Sweden, and allows the free movement of goods and services between them. There are also agreements in place that extend EFTA into the EU as a whole, providing easy access to markets in the European Union. Representatives from Newfoundland and Labrador have had discussions and meetings over the past several months with the Federation of Icelandic Industries and other key agencies and associations in Iceland. All have demonstrated a keen interest in timber frame construction products and services from this province, with the possibility of supplying Canadian timber frame construction technology to Iceland and, from there, to other EFTA and EU countries. Some of the recognized benefits of Canadian timber frame construction are:
There are strong historical and cultural ties between Iceland and Newfoundland and Labrador. Considerable cooperation exists between the two, and over the past five to 10 years there has been increasing interaction between this province and Iceland in many areas, including fisheries, economic development, information technology, etc., culminating in increased trade with Iceland and investment in Newfoundland and Labrador. The more recent discussions with Iceland relative to opportunities in the housing industry have been a natural evolution between Iceland and Newfoundland and Labrador because of the positive and ongoing relationship that exists between the two. The objectives of the mission are to give the Icelanders firsthand exposure to Canadian housing technology, to show what Newfoundland and Labrador companies have to offer, and to further strengthen networks with the Icelandic building community. To this end, the schedule of events for the mission will include:
The incoming mission from Iceland will be hosted by the Eastern Newfoundland Home Builders� Association. Incoming Icelandic Mission,
September 15-18, 2002 Mr. Hallgrimur Jonsson Mr. Oskar Jonsson Mr. Brynjar Ragnarsson Mr. Ari Skulason Mr. Stefan Fridfinnsson Ms. Valdis Bjarnadottir Mr. Hakon Olafsson Mr. Baldur Gislason Ms. Gudrun Danielsdottir
NF Styro Inc. 2002 09 09 2:50 p.m. |
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