$10 million agreement on international business development announced 

Charlottetown, PEI � Prime Minister Stephen Harper, joined by Premier Binns, on behalf of the four Atlantic Premiers, announced today a new five-year, $10 million Canada/Atlantic Provinces Agreement on International Business Development (IBDA) in Charlottetown. 

The IBDA helps build a stronger trading culture in Atlantic Canada through: trade training and awareness for companies, market information and intelligence, research and planning to develop strategic sectors, and international business development activities such as trade missions and trade shows. 

�This agreement reflects the commitment of Canada�s new government to help small- and medium-sized businesses in Atlantic Canada compete in North America and around the world,� said Prime Minister Harper.  �We want to assist Atlantic Canadians in bringing more of their goods and services to the world.� 

�Our government is pleased to be a partner in this agreement, which has become an important tool for meeting many of the needs of our new and established exporters,� said Premier Binns. �With the new phase of the IBDA, our companies will continue to receive the information and support they need to successfully compete in global markets.� 

�The Government of New Brunswick is proud to enter into this new phase of the IBDA, which will continue to meet the needs of our new and established exporters,� said New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord.  �Our province is the most trade-active province in Canada, and the IBDA will provide crucial access to information, training and market exposure that our companies need to succeed internationally.� 

�This agreement has become invaluable for helping companies that want to enter or expand in global markets,� said Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams.  �Over the past several years, more Newfoundland and Labrador companies have been participating in IBDA-funded projects, and we expect to see this interest in pursuing export opportunities expand further in the next phase of the agreement.�

�Our government is committed to building on the strong trading culture in our province,� said Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald.  �By being part of the IBDA, we are able to pool resources with our federal and provincial partners to help prepare our companies to compete with the very best in the world.� 

The IBDA provides a pan-Atlantic forum for the exchange of knowledge and coordination of international business development among the federal and provincial partners, namely the four provincial governments in Atlantic Canada and three federal government departments (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, International Trade Canada and Industry Canada). 

Media contact:

Lynn Evans, Director of Communications

Innovation, Trade and Rural Development

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

(709) 729-4570, 690-6920