Team Canada Atlantic arrives in Miami for trade mission

(Orlando, Florida) � A group of 46 Atlantic Canadian companies and organizations landed yesterday in Miami, Florida, and their visit to the sunshine state is all about business. The companies are participating in a Team Canada Atlantic (TCA) trade mission.

Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs Canada and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Senator Donald Oliver and representatives of the four Atlantic provinces are leading this mission to Miami and Orlando.

"Exporting is key to business success for Atlantic Canadian companies and to economic growth for the region," said Minister MacKay. "With exports creating one out of every three jobs in Atlantic Canada, trade and investment activities are essential to our economic growth. Team Canada Atlantic strengthens the trade and investment relationship between Atlantic Canada and the United States."

"Newfoundland and Labrador companies have made their mark internationally, due in part to trade missions organized through Team Canada Atlantic," said John Ottenheimer, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. "By availing of the opportunities offered through these valuable missions, Newfoundland and Labrador businesses are establishing key contacts and identifying export opportunities in new markets throughout North America."

Over the next few days, companies and organizations participating in the trade mission will have the opportunity to meet with businesses and industry leaders in a number of sectors. The Florida markets offer export 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.

TCA is a partnership of ACOA, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Industry Canada, Foreign Affairs Canada, International Trade Canada and the four Atlantic Provinces.

Eleven previous trade missions � to the New England states, Atlanta, New York, Washington D.C., and Chicago � have helped 360 Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs to meet with close to

3,000 agents and business owners from across the United States, resulting in export sales of more than of $37 million.

Visit www.teamcanadaatlantic.com for more information.

For more information, contact:

Newfoundland and Labrador
Compusult Limited (Mount Pearl); Corner Brook Port Corporation (Corner Brook); Humber Valley Paving (Corner Brook); Med Atlantic Ltd. (Paradise); MedicLINK Systems (St. John�s); Motion Networks (Torbay); Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries (St. John�s); Plato Group (St. John�s); Q5 Systems Ltd. (St. John�s); St. John�s Port Authority (St. John�s); Tacamor Inc. (Placentia), Tiller Engineering Inc. (St. John�s); Yates Boatbuilding International Inc. (Springdale)

Nova Scotia
Aylward Fiberglass Inc. (Barrington); Bigfoot Systems Inc. (Martin�s Point); Burnt Out Solutions Inc. (New Minas); Canadian Informatics Consultants Ltd. (Timberlea); ECCO Environmental Consulting & Contracting Inc. (Dartmouth); Halifax Port Authority (Halifax); IQUB/The Bitz (Sackville); JW Mason & Sons Ltd. (Windsor); Lunenburg Foundry and Engineering Ltd. (Lunenburg); MacLeod Resources Ltd. (River Denys); Nova Scotia Arctic Charr (Truro); The Cider House Company (Grand Pre); V1 Labs (Halifax)

New Brunswick
All-Wood Stairs Mfg. Ltd. (Notre-Dame); Cube Automation Inc. (Tracadie-Sheila); Fancy Pokket Corporation (Moncton); Ocean Pier Inc. (Scoudouc); St-Paul Fisheries (1989) Ltd. (Caraquet); P & E Manufacturing Ltd. (Bas Cap-Pel�); Professional Quality Assurance Ltd. (Fredericton); PropertyGuys.com (Moncton); Provinent Corporation (Fredericton); R.E.S. Enterprises (Fredericton); New Brunswick Aerospace and Defence Association (Fredericton); Saint John Port Authority (Saint John); Belledune Port Authority (Belledune); East Coast Seafood/Paturel International Co. (Deer Island); Tropical Shipping (Saint John)

Prince Edward Island
Advantage Communications Inc. (Charlottetown); Prince Edward Island BioAlliance (Charlottetown); Ravenwood Stairways (Alberton); Storemark Quality Fixtures (Pooles Corner); WebSMB Solutions (Charlottetown)

2006 05 15                                    2:20 p.m.