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NLIS 11
January 26, 2006
(Executive Council)
 

Province formalizes government, business and academic relationships in New England

During a trade mission to New England this week, Premier Danny Williams and other representatives from Newfoundland and Labrador signed three memoranda of understanding (MOU) with counterparts in New England.

Today, Premier Williams and Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri signed an MOU to continue to develop the relationship between the province and the state and strengthen cooperation and partnership in the field of ocean and marine technology, as well as other sectors that hold benefit for the regions. Both regions are home to strong academic research institutions and leading ocean and marine technology clusters. A joint working group, officially titled the Newfoundland and Labrador/Rhode Island Ocean and Marine Technology Joint Working Group, will be formed to create, action and report on mutually beneficial strategies focused on the ocean and marine technology sector. The group will also explore the feasibility of developing collaborative approaches to domestic, national and international business opportunities, joint trade and investment promotions, and collaborative research opportunities and technology transfers.

"The signing of these MOUs signifies the impressive gains that have been made between our province and New England, particularly the state of Rhode Island," said Premier Williams. "With such extensive collaboration and cooperation now in place at the state, academic and industry levels, and as experts in our fields, Newfoundland and Labrador and New England are poised to experience mutually beneficial results on many fronts from the signing of all three memoranda."

The second MOU, signed between OceansAdvance of St. John�s and the Marine and Oceanographic Technology Network (MOTN) of the U.S., will explore and develop economic partnerships between the two industry associations, foster economic development and meaningful exchanges between its memberships and capitalize on the synergies between these two communities. To facilitate and promote this relationship, OceansAdvance and the MOTN propose to establish a joint economic cooperation committee charged with developing an overall cooperative plan and determining areas of technology and research of mutual interest.

A third MOU between the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Rhode Island�s Graduate School of Oceanography was signed to formalize the working relationship between the two academic institutions. The Marine Institute and the Graduate School of Oceanography will work together in identifying areas where individuals within each organization can collaborate to develop and implement academic, research and development programs, and will seek to identify opportunities that benefit both partners. The two institutions share similar interests in the areas of fisheries, ocean technology and the environment. Both parties recognize the mutual benefit to be gained through cooperative and collaborative efforts in these areas and agree it will facilitate technology transfer and sharing of expertise between the two institutions.

The trade mission, led by Premier Williams, builds on the synergies in the marine and ocean technology sector between the two regions as a result of the New England Governors-Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEC-ECP) conference and marine technology mission to St. John�s in August 2005. The objective of the present trade mission in New England is to build on relationships between companies and academic institutions in the area of marine/ocean technology, and to forge strategic partnerships and alliances among our companies and academic institutions.

The New England trade mission is part of the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development�s New England Trade and Investment Initiative which has assisted more than one hundred Newfoundland and Labrador companies identify and take advantage of opportunities in the New England market in recent years. The initiative helps Newfoundland and Labrador companies export goods and services and it encourages New England-based companies to joint-venture, contract, manufacture or establish a presence in Newfoundland and Labrador. Additional information on the New England Trade and Investment Initiative can be found at www.newenglandbusiness.ca.

Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, (709) 729-3960, (709) 690-5500

2006 01 26                              4:15 p.m.


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