Team Canada Atlantic selects companies to conquer the Windy City

Forty-three Atlantic Canadian companies are packing their bags � they are heading to Chicago, Illinois, where they will explore potential business opportunities on Team Canada Atlantic�s first trade mission to the Midwest region of the United States.

The names of the participants were announced today, and among them are 12 companies and organizations from Newfoundland and Labrador. The Team Canada Atlantic trade mission to Chicago is scheduled for April 10-14, 2005.

"The upcoming Team Canada Atlantic trade mission to Chicago will help participating companies enter and expand into this lucrative U.S. market and will allow Atlantic Canada to further build on its reputation as a growing exporter of quality goods and services," said Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

Atlantic Canada exports have increased by 110 per cent over the past decade, rising from $9.3 billion in 1994 to $19.5 billion in 2003.

"Newfoundland and Labrador has a growing number of innovative companies in emerging industries that will participate in this mission including energy, information and communications technologies, cultural industries, food and beverage, and building and construction products," said Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams. "Trade missions allow our companies to promote their products on a world stage and make personal contact with potential customers."

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.

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.

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 nearly 2,500 buyers, agents and business owners from across the United States, resulting in export sales in excess of $35 million.

Newfoundland and Labrador
Compusult Limited (Mount Pearl); iDance (St. John�s); Labrador Preserves (Forteau); Meditrain (St. John�s); Nearshore Atlantic (St. John�s); Systems 'N' Solutions Ltd. (St. John�s); Terra Nova Industries Limited (Glovertown); thedog8it! (St. John�s); Torngait Ujaganniavingit Corporation (Nain); Unity Bay Energy Ltd. (St. John�s); Verafin Inc. (St. John�s), Wholesome Dairy Limited (Stephenville)

New Brunswick
Apex Industries Inc. (Moncton), Computer Generated Solutions, Canada Ltd. (Saint John); Craig Manufacturing Ltd. & Mircobotic Digital Machining (Hartland); GoSource (Moncton); Granite Town Farms Ltd. (St. George); LabMentors Inc. (Fredericton); L.B. Manufacturing Inc. (Dieppe); Etang Ruisseau Bar Ltd. (Shippagan); MedBridge Systems (Fredericton); Northumberland Co-operative Ltd. (Miramichi); Ocean Legacy Inc. (L�Etang); Saint John Port Authority (Saint John)

Nova Scotia
Abridean Inc. (Halifax); IQUB/The Bitz (Sackville); C-Vision (Halifax); Eden Valley Farms (ACA Co-operative Ltd.) (Kentville); Fineline Fuel Systems (Truro); Fundy Composites Limited (Halifax); Halifax Port Authority (Halifax); LaHave Audio Products (Bridgewater); Music Management International (Dartmouth); Nova Scotia Textiles Ltd. (Windsor); Trail Blazer (Dartmouth); Van Dyk�s Health Juice Products Ltd. (Kentville)

Prince Edward Island
Canadian Mussels, Ltd. (Montague); Fiber Connections Inc. (Summerside); Holland College (Charlottetown); PEI Mussel King (Morell); Ravenwood Stairways (Elmsdale); Storemark Quality Fixtures (Pooles Corner); Vision Research Inc. (Charlottetown)

Visit www.teamcanadaatlantic.ca for more information.

Media contact:

Val�rie Poulin, Director of Communications, Office of 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

2005 03 07             9:50 a.m.