NLIS 4
April 13, 2005
(Innovation, Trade and Rural Development)
Team Canada Atlantic
means business during second day in Chicago
Chicago means business, which suits
Team Canada Atlantic just fine. Participants concluded their second
day of successful business meetings yesterday, in the city recently
named by Moody�s Investor Services as the most economically diverse
metropolitan area in the U.S.
During this second day, representatives from 45 Atlantic Canadian
companies and business organizations attended meetings with
potential agents, brokers, distributors, and strategic partners in
Chicago. The trade mission wraps up on Thursday, April 14.
"The Atlantic Canadian delegation is building business relationships
with local companies and organizations," said Joseph McGuire,
Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "This
mission is allowing us to showcase the quality products and services
Atlantic Canada has to offer, while promoting the region as a good
place to do business."
Senator Marilyn Trenholme Counsell is taking part in the mission on
behalf of Minister McGuire.
"The businesses accompanying our trade mission engaged in further
meetings with Chicago area companies today," said Kathy Dunderdale,
Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development. "I am pleased with our progress, and delighted that we
are once again successfully marketing Newfoundland and Labrador
internationally. Many of the companies we are meeting are a good
match, and I am confident that our participants and the province
will benefit from this mission."
In addition to business meetings, the day�s events included a
discussion with industry leaders on border and transportation
issues, a meeting with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and a networking
luncheon hosted by the World Trade Centre Chicago.
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.
Visit
www.teamcanadaatlantic.com
Media contact:
Val�rie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of 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
Photo #1: Federal and provincial government officials meet with
participating companies during a pre-mission briefing session for an
upcoming Team Canada Atlantic trade mission.
Photo #2: Federal and provincial
government officials meet with representatives from the World Trade
Centre Chicago during the Team Canada Atlantic trade mission to
Chicago.
ADDITIONAL
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
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 11 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 US.
- 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 13
1:40 p.m. |