Delegates from 13 jurisdictions are assembling in St.
John�s for the official opening of the highly-anticipated Southeastern
United States�Canadian Provinces (SEUS//CP) Alliance conference
scheduled from July 26-28. The conference links industry, academia, and
government to explore valuable business partnerships in advanced
manufacturing, energy, and ocean technology.
The conference will be co-hosted by the Honourable
Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Governor Sonny
Perdue of Georgia.
"On behalf of the Province of Newfoundland and
Labrador, I extend a warm welcome to delegates who have travelled long
and far to come to St. John�s for the second annual SEUS//CP
conference," said Premier Williams. "Over the course of this conference,
businesses from all jurisdictions will have the opportunity to enjoy an
itinerary that focuses on key areas of growth. The opportunity to meet
with individuals from across the SEUS//CP region will hopefully result
in new partnerships being forged and the valuable exchange of ideas.
Newfoundland and Labrador is ideally positioned to face this global
recession and our message to our SEUS//CP colleagues is that we are open
for business."
Delegations from each jurisdiction represented in the
alliance, led by state governors and provincial premiers, or designates,
convene annually with host sites alternating between the United States
and Canada. The inaugural conference was hosted by the State of Georgia
in June 2008 and reflected the commitment that members have for the
alliance and their interest in working together.
The conference itinerary includes information sessions
on leadership in today�s economy, global energy demands, maritime
surveillance, �greening� companies to sustain the economy, aerospace and
defence technologies, and ocean observation. Participants will
also be able to tour local manufacturing facilities, the Fisheries and
Marine Institute of Memorial University, the National Research Council
Institute for Ocean Technology and the Johnson GEO Centre.
"I echo Premier Williams� welcome to all participants
and am optimistic that in partnership we can collectively explore
opportunities to better leverage our strengths," said the Honourable
Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.
"This event has been many months in the making, and is only made
possible by countless hours of planning and collaboration between our
department and representatives from the conference�s co-host, the State
of Georgia. We anticipate a lot of successes as businesses engage in
one-to-one meetings on matters related to knowledge-sharing, trade and
investment, and economic advancement."
Established in Montreal in 2007, the SEUS//CP Alliance
is a strategic trade and investment-focused partnership between six
southeastern American states (Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina,
Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama) and seven Canadian provinces
(Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New
Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba). It explores business
investment and trade opportunities between companies and organizations
in the sectors of energy, marine and ocean technology, advanced
manufacturing, and economic development.
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