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NLIS 2 February 18, 2004 (Industry, Trade and Rural Development) Atlantic Canadian companies to meet with industry leaders from around the world Building strong trade relationships in international markets and increasing the export capacity of Atlantic Canadian companies are key components of the trade strategies of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the four Atlantic provincial governments. Through the Canada/Atlantic Provinces COOPERATION Agreement on International Business Development, these partners are assisting close to 50 companies from the region to prepare and participate in four upcoming trade missions and trade shows. The missions take place in Orlando, Florida; London, England; Brussels, Belgium; and Glasgow, Scotland. The Atlantic companies will meet with industry leaders, buyers and decision makers in a variety of sectors including aquaculture, agri-food/seafood, gardening and consumer products to showcase products, services and ideas from this region. "Trade in goods and services accounts for 37.1 per cent of Atlantic Canada�s GDP," said Joseph McGuire, Minister of ACOA. "Getting our companies to export their knowledge, products and services beyond our borders is essential for our region�s economic growth." "Newfoundland and Labrador companies offer a variety of innovative and quality products and services that can compete and succeed in the international market," said Industry, Trade and Rural Development Minister Kathy Dunderdale. "By participating in trade shows and trade missions such as these, the companies can secure new business, expand their companies and support the economic growth of the province." An upcoming mission includes a delegation of 12 companies from Atlantic Canada who will visit London, England to participate in Oceanology International from March 16 � 19, 2004. This trade show attracts an international audience of policy makers, industrialists, government representatives, decision makers, researchers, directors, managers and manufacturers involved in every aspect of oceanography. They meet to address the present and future trends of the industry and to view the launch of new technologies, equipment and services. Four Atlantic Canadian companies will attend the largest North American exhibition for the tile, stone and flooring industry, Coverings 2004, from March 23-26, 2004 in Orlando, Florida. The participating Atlantic Canadian companies will be showcasing their products at this event and will meet with potential buyers from around the continent. Another group of Atlantic Canadian businesses will participate in the European Seafood Exhibition from May 4 � 6, 2004, in Brussels, Belgium. While showcasing their products at a Canadian pavilion, the members of the delegation will meet with top-level decision makers in purchasing, supplying, processing, distributing and import/exporting. This is the largest seafood event in the world with 60 national pavilions and visitors from more than 100 countries. Twelve companies from Atlantic Canada will participate in Aquaculture International 2004/Fishing 2004 in Glasgow, Scotland from May 19-21, 2004. This exhibition enables Atlantic Canadian companies to have direct access to industry representatives from more than 25 countries. The companies from Atlantic Canada will promote their ideas, products and services at this leading cold-water aquaculture trade show. These missions follow up a successful delegation of 10 companies who went to Boston, Massachusetts, from February 4 � 8, 2004 to participate in New England Grows, one of the premier gardening industry events in the United States. The Atlantic Canadian delegates focused on securing distributors and sales representatives in the New England region. The Canada/Atlantic Provinces COOPERATION Agreement on International Business Development (IBDA) is designed to increase exporting in Atlantic Canada by investing in projects that help small and medium-sized companies explore, enter and succeed in international markets. The agreement involves the four Atlantic Canadian provincial governments and three federal departments � the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Industry Canada and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. FOR BROADCAST USE: Building stronger trade relationships and increasing export capacity is a primary goal of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the four provincial governments in Atlantic Canada. That�s why this partnership through the IBDA is sending close to 50 companies to four upcoming trade shows and missions. From Orlando to Brussels, companies will meet with industry leaders in a variety of sectors including aquaculture, agri-food/seafood and consumer products to showcase Atlantic Canadian products and services. These trade activities help Atlantic Canadian companies to expand their business in foreign markets by exporting their ideas, products and services. Exports from Atlantic Canadian firms more than doubled in the last decade, growing to $20 billion. For more information, contact:
Shauna MacNeil
2004 02 18 4:55 p.m. |
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