Backgrounder
Comprehensive Regional Diversification Strategy
Avalon

Regional Profile¹
Number of Communities: 147, including Whitbourne, Old Perlican, Carbonear, Holyrood, Conception Bay South, Wabana, Torbay, St. John's, Bay Bulls, Ferryland, St. Mary's, St. Bride's, Placentia

Population: 237,655 in 2001 (174,045 in the St. John's CMA)

Top Three Industries by Employment Level, 2000: Health Care and Social Assistance, Retail Trade and Public Administration

Total Number of Businesses, 2003: 8,043 businesses with the top three industries being Retail Trade, Health Care and Social Assistance, and Construction

Strategic Sectors
Regional Priority Sectors: Energy, Tourism, Communications, Marine and Ocean Technology, Agrifoods and Fisheries, Biotechnology, Mining and Marine Services

Industrial Diversification Opportunities - Examples
Energy:

• Development of opportunities in supply and support services to the oil and gas industry

Tourism:

• Marketing the region through Destination St. John's
• Cruise ship industry development in St. John's
• Convention and sport market development in St. John's area
• Baccalieu Trail Route theme development including Carbonear Island and Baccalieu Islands Ecological Reserve
• Cape Shore Route theme development
• Colony of Avalon archaeological development
• East Coast Hiking Trail development
• Cupid's Colony development

Communications:

• Call centre prospecting in St. John's

Marine and Ocean Technology:

• Public/private partnerships through research and development facilities in St. John�s area (Institute for Ocean Technology, C-Core, Marine Institute, Ocean Sciences Centre, Canadian Centre for Marine Communications and Oceans Advance)
• Private sector opportunities in marine communications, navigation, and safety and survival technology

Agrifoods and Fisheries:

• Research into specialty crop production (eg. sea buckthorn and bok choi) and import substitution opportunities for traditional crops
• Agricultural Training and Research Centre in Carbonear
• Nutraceutical opportunities through root crops, specialty crops and herbal medicines
• Value-added secondary processing of shellfish and new product development throughout the region

Biotechnology:

• Identification of opportunities in the biotechnology industry

Mining:

• Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Ltd. demonstration plant in Argentia
• Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Ltd. commercial processing plant in Argentia
• Development of opportunities arising from future Inco processing operations in Argentia
• Pryrophyllite development

Marine Services:

• Supply of products and services to the marine sector

¹ Source: Community Accounts