|
NLIS 3 April 28, 2004 (Innovation, Trade and Rural Development) Team Canada Atlantic explores opportunities for new business in Washington, D.C. Team Canada Atlantic wrapped up two days of meetings with potential agents, brokers, distributors, and strategic partners in Washington, D.C. yesterday. During this second day, representatives from 27 Atlantic Canadian companies and business organizations attended meetings with potential agents, brokers, distributors, and strategic partners in Washington. "It�s been a great couple of days," said Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "We came to Washington to help increase export revenue for Atlantic firms and to send the message that Atlantic Canada is a great place in which to invest. We�re sending the message that our region embraces new technology as a key driver of innovation and international competitiveness." "There are a wealth of business opportunities in the Washington area and the Newfoundland and Labrador delegation has made good progress in building business relationships with local companies and organizations," said Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. "This mission has allowed us to showcase Newfoundland and Labrador companies, a number of which are on the leading edge of their respective technologies." Over 80 per cent of Atlantic Canada exports are destined for U.S. markets. Exports create one out of every three new jobs in Atlantic Canada, and for every $1 million in exports, eight to 11full-time positions are sustained. One of the scheduled sessions provided business representatives from Team Canada Atlantic with information on how to access U.S. government procurement contracts. Another session hosted by the Canadian Embassy focused on business process outsourcing. This event provided an important opportunity to position Atlantic Canada as a competitive, skilled and low-cost location for growing U.S. companies � particularly those with a technology and innovation agenda. One afternoon roundtable focused on the commercialization of new technologies and spotlighted successful models involving innovation and technology commercialization from the Greater Washington area. The roundtable was attended by Atlantic Canadian government officials and senior U.S. executives from the Greater Washington area. Team Canada Atlantic missions are designed to increase trade and attract foreign investment to Atlantic Canada through strategic initiatives targeted at select U.S. markets. The missions introduce export-ready firms to international markets and provide experienced exporters the opportunity to explore new markets. Since the Team Canada Atlantic program began in 1999, there have been a total of nine trade missions to the United States, including this latest mission to Washington. These missions have enabled more than 300 Atlantic Canadian firms to meet with over 2,300 buyers, agents, and business owners from across the United States, helping to generate $20 million in short term sales and more than $115 million in long-term sales. Team Canada Atlantic partners include: ACOA; the Atlantic Canada World Trade Centre; the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Agriculture and Agri-food Canada; Industry Canada; and the governments of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador. For more information on this Team Canada Atlantic Trade Mission to Washington, D.C., visit: Media contact:
Stephen Heckbert
Shauna MacNeil
Lynn Evans 2004 04 28 2:25 p.m. |
||
|
