July 10, 2012
Atlantic Canada Delegation Attends One of the World’s Largest Airshows
A delegation of 18 companies and organizations from Atlantic Canada’s aerospace and defence industry are in London, England, to attend the Farnborough International Airshow, one of the largest and best known aeronautics events in the world. At the show, Atlantic Canadian companies and organizations will have the opportunity to establish valuable international contacts, promote their world-class capabilities, and become part of aerospace and defence global supply chains. The Farnborough International Airshow began yesterday and concludes July 13.
“Our government’s top priority is creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity,” said the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie. “Our region has a unique opportunity to further develop its expertise in the aerospace and defence sector with the shipbuilding work that will take place in Halifax. We are pleased to support the Atlantic Canadian delegation at the Farnborough airshow, where our companies will have the chance to establish valuable international contacts.”
“Newfoundland and Labrador’s delegation at the Farnborough International Airshow have made significant inroads into international markets with their innovative products,” said the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development. “Their participation in this event creates an avenue to further expand their penetration in the aerospace and defence market by connecting with key industry stakeholders. It is a valuable exercise in marketing and business development.”
Held every two years in the United Kingdom, the Farnborough International Airshow is among the world’s largest international tradeshows for aerospace equipment and technology. In 2010, 250,000 visitors attended, including 70 delegations from 44 countries.
While on site, Atlantic delegates will participate in one-on-one business meetings, networking events, market familiarization briefings, round-table discussions with key industry leaders, and site tours. They will also showcase their products and services at an Atlantic Canada pavilion as part of the event’s trade show.
With annual revenues of over $1 billion and exports to 180 countries around the world, the aerospace and defence industry is a major driver of Atlantic Canada’s economy. The region is home to more than 200 innovative aerospace and defence firms that provide highly-skilled jobs to over 10,000 Atlantic Canadians in areas like maintenance, repair and overhaul, advanced manufacturing, training and simulation and professional engineering services.
“As one of the world’s leading companies in the area of training and learning, we have established an excellent clientele within the global aerospace and defence market,” said Allen Dillon, Executive Vice-President of Business Development and Government Relations at Bluedrop Performance Learning, headquartered in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. “The Farnborough International Airshow is a major event and we look forward to meeting with existing clients and establishing new businesses contacts at the show.”
An investment of $120,000 for the business mission was provided through the Canada-Atlantic Provinces Agreement on International Business Development (IBDA). The mission is being organized by the Aerospace and Defence Industry Association of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Aerospace Association of Prince Edward Island, on behalf of the Atlantic Alliance of Aerospace and Defence Associations.
Support of this mission is part of the commitment of the Government of Canada and the four Atlantic provinces, through the International Business Development Agreement, to help Atlantic Canadian businesses succeed in international markets.
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Media contacts:
| Andréa Richer Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt 613-790-3637 andrea.richer@acoa-apeca.gc.ca |
Scott Barfoot Director of Communications Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development Government of Newfoundland and Labrador 709-729-4570 scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca |
| Robert Bourgeois Senior Communications Officer Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency 506-851-6394 robert.bourgeois@acoa-apeca.gc.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
The following is a list of the companies and organizations from Newfoundland and Labrador taking part in the business mission to the 2012 Farnborough International Airshow:
Bluedrop Performance Learning: Bluedrop Performance Learning, headquartered in St. John’s, is a leader in advanced learning technologies. Part of the company’s mandate is to produce mission training solutions for international military and commercial aviation clientele.
Provincial Aerospace: Provincial Aerospace, of St. John’s, is an international aerospace and defence company that specializes in solutions for maritime surveillance operations from single point of accountability for major government procurements to mission systems integration, aircraft modification, training, integrated logistics support and mission operations.
Federal and provincial government officials, as well as representatives from the following organizations, are also part of the business mission to the 2012 Farnborough International Airshow:
• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• Department of National Defence, Goose Bay
• Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, Newfoundland and Labrador
2012 07 10 12:55 p.m.