Team Canada Atlantic arrives in Chicago for trade mission

A delegation of 45 Atlantic Canadian companies and organizations landed in Chicago, Illinois, yesterday. The delegates are participating in the first Team Canada Atlantic (TCA) trade mission to a market that has it all: the busiest airports, a strong business base, a diversified economy and endless business possibilities. The TCA delegation is in Chicago until Thursday, April 14.

"Atlantic Canadian companies increasingly recognize that exporting is key to success in business," said Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "Trade missions provide an opportunity for our companies to break into new export markets and improve their bottom line. That is why ACOA is proud to support trade and investment initiatives like Team Canada Atlantic. We know this approach works � we have the results to back it up. Given that, we have high expectations for this mission."

Senator Marilyn Trenholme Counsell is taking part in the mission on behalf of Minister McGuire.

"Newfoundland and Labrador has much to offer the world from an investment, export and business perspective, and we are committing to fostering opportunities for companies to market themselves abroad," said Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. "In the past, we have led a number of successful trade missions from Newfoundland and Labrador to various markets in the United States and Europe. We are taking some excellent companies with us on this mission and I am confident that we will repeat those successes in Chicago."

Over the next few days, companies participating in the trade mission will have the opportunity to meet with businesses and industry leaders in a number of sectors, including advanced manufacturing; agriculture; agri-food and seafood; building and construction; consumer products; information and communications technology; and life sciences.

Team Canada Atlantic is a partnership of ACOA, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Industry Canada, Foreign Affairs Canada, International Trade Canada and the four Atlantic provinces. Team Canada Atlantic is committed to strengthening the trade and investment relationship between Atlantic Canada and the United States.

Trade missions have been at the core of the Team Canada Atlantic approach since 1999. Nine trade missions to the New England states, Atlanta, New York and Washington have helped more than 300 Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs to meet with nearly 2,500 buyers, agents and business owners from across the United States, resulting in export sales in excess of $35 million.

Complete List of Participating Companies and Organizations

Newfoundland and Labrador
Compusult Limited (Mount Pearl); iDance (St. John�s); Labrador Preserves (Forteau); Meditrain (St. John�s); Nearshore Atlantic (St. John�s); Systems 'N' Solutions Ltd. (St. John�s); Terra Nova Industries Limited (Glovertown); thedog8it! (St. John�s); Torngait Ujaganniavingit Corporation (Nain); Unity Bay Energy Ltd. (St. John�s); Verafin Inc. (St. John�s), Wholesome Dairy Limited (Stephenville).

New Brunswick
Apex Industries Inc. (Moncton), Computer Generated Solutions, Canada Ltd. (Saint John); Craig Manufacturing Ltd. & Microbotic Digital Machining (Hartland); GoSource (Moncton); Granite Town Farms Ltd. (St. George); LabMentors Inc. (Fredericton); L.B. Manufacturing Inc. (Dieppe); Etang Ruisseau Bar Ltd. (Shippagan); MedBridge Systems (Fredericton); Northumberland Co-operative Ltd. (Miramichi); Ocean Legacy Inc. (L�Etang); Saint John Port Authority (Saint John).

Nova Scotia
Abridean Inc. (Halifax); IQUB/The Bitz (Sackville); C-Vision (Halifax); EdenValley Farms (ACA Co-operative Ltd.) (Kentville); Fineline Fuel Systems (Truro); Fundy Composites Limited (Halifax); Glenora Distillery (Glenville); Halifax Port Authority (Halifax); Intelivote Systems Inc. (Dartmouth); LaHave Audio Products (Bridgewater); Music Management International (Dartmouth); Nova Scotia Textiles Ltd. (Windsor); Trail Blazer (Dartmouth); Van Dyk�s Health Juice Products Ltd. (Kentville).

Prince Edward Island
Canadian Mussels, Ltd. (Montague); Fiber Connections Inc. (Summerside); Holland College (Charlottetown); PEI Mussel King (Morell); Ravenwood Stairways (Elmsdale); Storemark Quality Fixtures (Pooles Corner); Vision Research Inc. (Charlottetown).

Visit www.teamcanadaatlantic.com

For more information, contact:

Val�rie Poulin, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, (613) 941-7241

Tracy Kenney, Senior Communications Officer, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, (506) 851-2639

Lynn Evans, Director of Communications, Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, (709) 729-4570

BACKGROUNDER

Trade and Investment

• Canada and the United States share the world�s largest and most comprehensive trading relationship, which supports more than two million jobs in both countries.
• Approximately C$1.8 billion in trade crosses the Canada-U.S. border every single day.
• More than 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 eleven full-time positions are sustained.
• The United States is the largest foreign investor in Canada and the most popular destination for Canadian investment.
• Atlantic Canada exports to the U.S. Midwest valued at $416 million in 2003, accounting for approximately three per cent of Atlantic Canada�s total export market to the United States.

Chicago

• Chicago is the third largest metropolitan area in the United States. It is home to more than eight million people and 200,000 businesses.
• Chicago�s main industries are financial services, transportation, business services, government services, technology and retail.
• Chicago is home to numerous Fortune 500 firms such as Boeing, Sears, Deere & Co., Motorola, Allstate Corp., Caterpillar and United Airlines.
• Chicago has two airports which process 83 million passengers a year. In addition, Chicago is home to the largest rail center in the U.S.
• An estimated 75 per cent of the U.S. population can be reached by truck within two days from Chicago.
• Known as the meeting place for the U.S., Chicago has an abundance of meeting facilities and hosts many conventions and trade shows each year.
• In 2003, Atlantic Canada sold $255 million worth of goods to Illinois, $30 million to Missouri and $131 million to Wisconsin for a total of $416 million for the U.S. Midwest.
• Chicago is home to the Consulate General of Canada responsible for Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Sources: Trade Data Online (strategis.ic.gc.ca), InfoExport, the Canadian Consulate General in Chicago and World Business Chicago (worldbusinesschicago.com)

2005 04 11                               3:00 p.m.