Thirty-one companies and organizations returned to the province on Monday following a successful trade mission to Iceland. Led by the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, the trade mission included a three-day consumer and business-to-business trade show that attracted more than 2,000 Icelanders and resulted in positive relationships being formed.

"Our previous trade missions to Iceland helped open-doors and has initiated a high-level of awareness of the province and its wealth of products," said Minister Taylor. "Throughout the five-day trade mission there was considerable evidence of growing ties between Iceland and the province. On the business side our products were warmly-received and the Iceland government has expressed a willingness to send its own trade delegation to the province.

The delegation included representation from rural and urban communities, tourism and cultural sectors, and manufacturers of consumer products. The trade mission provided the delegates with the opportunity to meet with potential buyers and partners, as well as the opportunity to sell directly to the Icelandic consumer.

"Heading into the mission I was confident that we could secure Iceland as our 14^th export market," said John Hurley, president of Conception Bay South-based Hurley Group of Companies. "Our goal was reached with the signing of contract to supply BYKO (the Icelandic equivalent of Home Depot) with our signage products, established a distributor for tiles, and partnered with a leading stone company. On reflection, I am sorry we overlooked the Iceland market in the past and we hope to see the department expand the role of similar trade missions, as well as extend business matching services for exporters to other international markets."

"Through our involvement in a previous trade mission we had already established a distribution channel in Iceland and we were able to develop new relationships," said Vi Goulding of Paradise Farms Inc. of Paradise. "We were successful in establishing new relationships with a pet store, along with Iceland�s largest outfitter of consumer goods in Iceland. Trade missions of this nature are essential to our continued growth."

Other agencies participating in the organization of the mission included the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME), the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE), the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and Industry Canada.

The Provincial Government is helping companies from rural and urban communities identify new markets and partners through its export development strategy. In the last fiscal year, the Provincial Government led 89 companies in various national and international trade missions.

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Media contact:
Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
709-729-4570, 690-6290
ScottBarfoot@gov.nl.ca