NLIS 2
November 26, 2004
(Innovation, Trade and Rural Development)

 

Team Canada Atlantic seeks new business opportunities in Chicago

Team Canada Atlantic is getting ready to do business in Chicago. Approximately 40 companies from all over Atlantic Canada will participate in the trade mission, scheduled for April 10-14, 2005.

"Chicago is home to 46 of the Fortune 500 companies and is a major distribution centre for the United States and the world," said Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "Exports create one out of every three jobs in Atlantic Canada which means that trade missions like this one are very important to the continued economic development of our region."

"This trade mission to Chicago represents the ongoing expansion of the Team Canada Atlantic initiative into a new marketplace," said Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador. "The benefits of the Team Canada Atlantic trade development approach have been significant. Our previous trade missions to markets in the north and south-east United States over the past five years have generated over $2 million in sales for Newfoundland and Labrador companies."

Chicago offers opportunities for Atlantic Canadian companies in a variety of sectors including: advanced manufacturing; agriculture; agri-food and seafood; building and construction; consumer products; information and communications technology; and life sciences.

Team Canada Atlantic is a partnership of ACOA, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Industry Canada, Foreign Affairs Canada, International Trade Canada and the four Atlantic provinces. Team Canada Atlantic is committed to strengthening the trade and investment relationship between Atlantic Canada and the United States.

According to Statistics Canada, Atlantic Canadian exports to the state of Illinois were approximately $255 million in 2003, while total Atlantic Canadian exports to the United States were $15.8 billion.

Trade missions have been at the core of the Team Canada Atlantic approach since 1999. Nine trade missions to the New England states, Atlanta, New York and Washington have helped more than 300 Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs to meet with almost 2,500 buyers, agents and business owners from across the United States, resulting in export sales of $30 million and projected long-term sales of $70 million.

Visit www.teamcanadaatlantic.com for more information.

Media contact:

Valerie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 941-7241

Tracy Kenney
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(506) 851-2639

Elizabeth Matthews
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
(709) 729-3690

Lynn Evans
Director of Communications
Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
(709) 729-4570

2004 11 26                                           11:10 a.m.


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