Innovation, Business and Rural Development
September 19, 2012

Atlantic Businesses Exploring Trade Opportunities in Trade Missions to Brazil

Atlantic Canadian businesses and learning institutions will be making their way to Brazil over the coming weeks, as the Latin American country plays host to three separate business missions from the region. Two delegations will be attending international exhibitions, while another will work at recruiting Brazilian students to Atlantic Canadian institutions of higher learning and selling training services.

“Our government’s priority is creating jobs, growth and economic prosperity,” said the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Associate Minister of National Defence and Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) (La Francophonie). “The potential for increased trade between Atlantic Canada and Brazil is excellent. These missions will help open market opportunities for Atlantic Canadian companies and strengthen our region’s trade relationship with Brazil.”

One Atlantic Canadian delegation will attend the Rio Oil and Gas Show from September 17-20. Another is participating in an education recruitment mission to Brasilia, Recife and São Paulo from September 23-29. The third delegation is embarking on an information and communications technology mission to Futurecom, a trade show and exhibition taking place in Rio de Janeiro from October 8-11.

“Brazil is a high-growth market that has the potential to invite new opportunities for Newfoundland and Labrador-based businesses, and educational institutions,” said the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development. “Previous trade missions to Brazil have highlighted this potential and led to new business relationships being formed. It is important that we sustain this momentum and support businesses to diversify their export markets and grow their operations.”

“Brazil’s offshore oil and gas sector is in full expansion,” said Ron Collier, Director of Sales and Marketing with SubC Control Ltd, of Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador. “Our company provides high quality underwater video and photography equipment and services, and we are eager to provide our services to clients in Brazil.”

These business missions will help Atlantic Canadian companies capitalize on market opportunities in key sectors in Brazil. A 2011 market study prepared for the Government of Canada and the governments of the four Atlantic provinces entitled A Study to Identify Key Sectors of Opportunity for Atlantic Canadian Firms in Brazil, found that Atlantic Canadian companies have expertise in many key areas that are in demand in Brazil, including information and communications technology, ocean technology, education and oil and gas technology, which are represented in these missions.

In 2011, bilateral trade between Canada and Brazil reached $6.7 billion. That same year, Brazil was Canada’s sixth largest foreign investor with $18.6 billion in cumulative investment. Brazil was also the 12th largest recipient of Canadian direct investment abroad, with a total of $9.8 billion in cumulative investment. Exports from Atlantic Canada to Brazil totalled $229 million in 2011.

Funding for the missions will be provided through the Canada/Atlantic Provinces Agreement on International Business Development (IBDA). The IBDA is a federal/provincial agreement between the Government of Canada (ACOA, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, and Industry Canada) and the four provincial governments in Atlantic Canada, and is designed to help Atlantic Canadian businesses enter, explore and succeed in international markets. The IBDA is the leading component of a pan Atlantic effort to foster business relations, attract foreign investment and nurture technological co-operation.

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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 709-729-4570, 690-6290 scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca
Robert Bourgeois Senior Communications Officer Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency 506-851-6394 robert.bourgeois@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

 

Backgrounder
Atlantic Canadian Companies and Organizations Participating in Trade Missions to Brazil

2012 Rio Oil and Gas Show, September 17-20}
Alscott Air Systems Limited: Alscott Air Systems Limited, with offices in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, is a Canadian corporation that specializes in the design, supply, installation and commissioning of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) for ships as well as offshore and onshore oil and gas facilities. The company has a history that dates back to 1956 and has completed HVAC installations in most Canadian-built ships since that time.

Aspin, Kemp & Associates: Aspin, Kemp & Associates, which has offices in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and Stratford, Prince Edward Island, is a systems integration company specializing in developing, manufacturing, installing, maintaining and documenting engineering solutions. The company primarily provides innovative and technically advanced products and services to the marine and offshore oil and gas industries.

Associated Manufacturing: Associated Manufacturing, headquartered in Miramichi, New Brunswick, is a joint venture of a number of well-established manufacturing firms with extensive experience in major project management, equipment fabrication, assembly and installation for heavy industry and other support activities. Associated Manufacturing’s mandate is to provide its customers with a fully integrated manufacturing solution to their needs.

CARIS: Located in Fredericton, New Brunswick, CARIS is a software company that develops and supports geomatics software for land and marine applications. The company offers training, consulting and technical support services, as well as an extensive series of workshops. Users can also gain swift access to qualified technical experts via on-line services, as well as multilingual telephone and email support during extended business hours.

C-CORE: St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador’s C-CORE is an independent, not-for-profit research and development corporation that creates value in the private and public sectors by undertaking applied research and development, generating knowledge, developing technology solutions and driving innovation.

Compusult Limited: Located in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador, Compusult Limited is a global leader in geospatial interoperability. The company markets a suite of standards-based applications offering revolutionary solutions for geospatial data discovery, access and delivery.

Four Quest Energy: Four Quest Energy, with offices in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador, offers properly engineered, high quality pre-commissioning, commissioning, and regular maintenance services within the energy industry.

JASCO Applied Sciences: JASCO Applied Sciences of Halifax, Nova Scotia, is an international company with over 25 years experience providing consulting services to the marine industrial, oceanographic, oil and gas, fisheries, defence and IT sectors.

Marine Industrial Lighting Systems Ltd.: Marine Industrial Lighting Systems Ltd. is a Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador, company working in the field of specialized marine and industrial lighting. Marine Industrial Lighting prides itself on being able to provide custom lighting solutions that standard “off the shelf” products are not able to offer.

Marine Institute of Memorial University: The Marine Institute of Memorial University is a post-secondary ocean and marine polytechnic located in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is affiliated with Memorial University of Newfoundland. The Marine Institute is considered the most comprehensive institution of its kind in North America, with unique facilities such as a full ship’s bridge simulator and the world’s largest flume tank. It offers degrees, diplomas, certifications and industry training for the maritime sector.

Maritime Hydraulic: Maritime Hydraulic, of Moncton, New Brunswick, provides sales, service and manufacturing of hydraulic equipment and systems for all industries. The company also specializes in complete Marine and Ferry Terminal Loading Systems.

OceansAdvance: Formally established in 2005, Oceans Advance Inc., located in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, is an organization tasked with fostering and promoting the growth and development of the ocean technology sector in Newfoundland and Labrador, by aligning industry, academia, research and government. Oceans Advance is governed by a Board of Directors, largely made up of members from the private sector.

Resolution Optics: Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Resolution Optics uses patented holographic technology to create a simple yet powerful microscope that can be used for desktop or submersible research in the lab or in the field. The company’s microscopes are driven by a software package that is revolutionizing the way research is conducted and supporting breakthroughs in science and industry.

Rolls-Royce Canada: With offices in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Rolls-Royce Canada’s energy business unit is the worldwide research and development, manufacturing and support center for gas turbines, used for power generation and oil and gas applications in over 120 countries.

SubC Control: SubC Control, of Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, is a company committed to developing innovative and reliable solutions for the complex problems that occur in the professional underwater market. The company specializes in the development of high definition (HD) video, digital stills, and recording solutions.

Virtual Marine Technology Limited: Located in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Virtual Marine Technology (VMT) develops simulators for survival craft, fast response craft and high speed electronic navigation training. VMT is partnered with Canada's leading maritime institutions to research, model and simulate small craft motion.

Welaptega Marine Limited: Welaptega Marine Limited is a Halifax, Nova Scotia-based offshore oil and gas services company that develops advanced technologies to solve offshore problems and protect personnel, the environment, production and the reputation of offshore operators. The company has established a global clientele consisting of oil and gas companies such as Exxon, Chevron, Shell and BP.

Federal and Provincial Government officials, as well as representatives from the following organizations, are also part of the business mission to the 2012 Rio Oil and Gas Show:

• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• The Department of Economic Development, Province of New Brunswick
• The Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association
• Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism, Government of Nova Scotia
• The Maritimes Energy Association

Brasilia, Recife and São Paulo from September 23 to 29
Acadia Univeristy: Located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Acadia University is a predominantly undergraduate university, which also offers some graduate programs at the master's level and one at the doctoral level.

Cape Breton University: Located near Sydney, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton University (CBU) is the only post-secondary degree-granting institution on Cape Breton Island.

Centre for Nursing Studies: Established in 1996 and headquartered in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Centre for Nursing Studies offers a variety of programs designed to provide high quality nursing education in a continuously changing health care system. The centre prepares caring, skilled and knowledgeable nurses and practical nurses.

Canadian Language Learning College: The Canadian Language Learning College is a world-class English language college with a professionally designed campus in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The college showcases flexible student-centered academic programs, in a friendly and professional environment.

College of the North Atlantic: College of the North Atlantic is one of the largest post-secondary educational and skills training centres in Atlantic Canada, with a history dating back more than 40 years. Today the school has 17 campus locations throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and one in the Middle East State of Qatar.

Dalhousie University: Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Dalhousie is a leading, research-intensive Canadian university offering more than 180 degree programs in 11 diverse faculties.

EduNova: With an office in Halifax, EduNova is a co-operative industry association of education and training providers in Nova Scotia. EduNova’s mandate is to work with members to raise the profile of Nova Scotia’s education and training expertise. EduNova’s focus is on collaborative international recruitment activities and the identification of international project opportunities.

The International Centre for English Academic Preparation: The International Centre for English Academic Preparation is a language centre located on the Cape Breton University (CBU) campus in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. The centre offers English for Academic Preparation to international students who wish to enter CBU but lack the required English proficiency.

Keyin College: With campuses throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, Keyin College is a leading educational institution that delivers superior industry-driven programs in a comfortable learning environment. Keyin College strives to design its programs so that each student receives industry-driven training and to ensure that graduates are equipped with both the practical and academic skills necessary to enter the workforce.

Memorial University of Newfoundland: With historical strengths in education, engineering, business, geology, and medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland is one of the top comprehensive universities in Canada. The university’s primary campus is in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. There is also a campus in Corner Brook and in Old Harlow, Essex, England.

Moncton Flight College: The Moncton Flight College (MFC) is a pilot training school based at the Greater Moncton International Airport in Dieppe, New Brunswick. MFC is the largest private flight school in Canada. The college has trained over 16,000 pilots from around the world since 1929.

Nova Scotia Community College: Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) is a community college serving the province of Nova Scotia. The NSCC delivers a diverse range of programs in the schools of Trades and Technology, Health and Human Services, Applied Arts and New Media, Business and Access. The college has 13 campuses located across Nova Scotia and six community learning centres.

University of New Brunswick: The University of New Brunswick (UNB) is a non-denominational university located in New Brunswick. It is the oldest English language university in Canada. UNB has two main campuses located in Fredericton, and Saint John. UNB offers over 75 degrees in 14 faculties at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Velsoft: Headquartered in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Velsoft is a courseware development company that produces products designed to serve as complete training solutions to deliver high quality classroom instruction.

Futurecom, in Rio de Janeiro, from October 8-11, 2012
Mariner Partners Inc: Located in Saint John, New Brunswick, Mariner Partners Inc. is a privately owned company that focuses on internet protocol television software and professional services. Mariner was founded in 2003 and now has over 110 people on board. Mariner’s innovative business strategies have expanded to reach the US, the Caribbean and Europe and the company continues to grow rapidly.

New Pace Technology Development: New Pace Technology Development, of Bedford, Nova Scotia provides software development, systems operations, and applications support to a world-wide base of customers. The company’s clients are primarily established telecommunications and internet application companies requiring software product and applications development.

V-DOCS: V-DOCS is a Dartmouth, Nova Scotia company that provides the mobile industry with premier paperless contract solutions. V-DOCS employs digital signature and contract capture which allows its clients to store agreements and other client-related documents electronically.

VistaCare Communications: Based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, VistaCare Communications is a leading commercial technology solutions provider for a wide range of businesses and organizations. The designs, builds, installs, and services all aspects of commercial communications and building security systems, including fibre optics, communication cabling, outside plant construction, audio/video, wireless, and site and building security.

2012 09 19             4:10 p.m.