Team Canada Atlantic targets Florida for spring trade mission

Hot on the heels of its trade mission to Chicago, Illinois, Team Canada Atlantic today announced that it is targeting Florida for its next trade mission. Approximately 40 companies and organizations from across Atlantic Canada will participate in the mission, scheduled for May 14-18, 2006.

�We look forward to leading the next trade mission to Florida, a state that has the fourth largest economy in the United States and 15th largest in the world,� said Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). �Prospects are so significant in this market that we have decided to split the mission and target two locations � Miami and Orlando � to offer maximum benefit to our participating companies.�

�The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the State of Florida have a number of industries in common and I believe this trade mission will allow our companies to develop partnerships and trade opportunities particularly in maritime-based industries, high tech, and construction,� said Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.

The Southeast (Miami-Dade/Broward/Palm Beach) and Central I-4 Corridor (Tampa/Orlando/Cape Canaveral) areas of Florida offer good opportunities in the areas of advanced manufacturing, including aerospace and defence; agri-food and seafood; building and construction products; consumer products; information communications technology; life sciences; and ocean industries, including boat building. The mission will be based in Miami and Orlando.

Miami is the United States� 11th largest metropolitan area with a population of approximately 2.3 million. The port of Miami is the world�s largest cruise port, servicing more than three million passengers a year, as well as a major seaport for cargo.

Orlando and its surrounding area account for a significant portion of the technological advances in the state. Home to NASA�s Kennedy Space Center, Spaceport Technology Center, and several providers of space-enabled services, the region is at the forefront of space research and contributes significantly to technological advances in the industry.

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. Ten trade missions to the New England states, Atlanta, New York, Washington D.C., and Chicago and have helped 329 Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs to meet with more than 2,750 buyers, agents and business owners from across the United States, resulting in export sales of more than $36 million.

Advertisements will appear in newspapers over the next two weeks to invite interested companies to attend Market Information Sessions in New Brunswick (November 1, 2005), Prince Edward Island (November 2, 2005), Nova Scotia (November 3, 2005) and Newfoundland and Labrador (November 4, 2005). Interested companies can also visit www.teamcanadaatlantic.com 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

Lynn Evans, Director of Communications, Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, (709) 729-4570, 690-6290

2005 10 14                         11:35 a.m.