Innovation, Business and Rural Development
July 18, 2013
Ten companies and industry associations from Newfoundland and Labrador recently returned from successful meetings promoting trade at the 6th Annual Southeastern United States-Canadian Provinces Alliance Conference (SEUS-CP) held July 14-16 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
“The conference provided valuable opportunities for local companies to enhance commercial and trade partnerships, and identify new markets, potential buyers and trading partners,” said the Honourable Keith Hutchings, Minister of Innovation, Business and Rural Development. “SEUS-CP is a great venue to work with local businesses to help connect with leaders in key sectors and to facilitate discussion to identify new markets for commercial exchange, and trade.”
Minister Hutchings joined his colleagues of economic development and secretaries of commerce from across Canada and the Southeastern United States at the conference. Discussion panels focused on growth sectors and innovative companies that are driving economic development and partnerships in Canada and the southeastern United States. Topics included life sciences and health technology, global gateways, marine, defence and security technology, and clean technology innovation.
Newfoundland and Labrador companies included Nalcor Energy, the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs, the Aerospace & Defence Industry Association of Newfoundland, TeleLink Call Centre, Safety Marketing, Rutter Inc., Smart Learning Solutions, Hi-Point Industries, Compusult, and Solace Power.
"Compusult identified several new business opportunities at the SEUS-CP conference recently held in Halifax,” said Paul Mitten, Vice-President, Compusult. “We feel there are excellent prospects for working with a number of firms in Canada and at least one company from the southeastern U.S. As a result of our participation in the panel discussion on Clean Tech, we also discussed partnering opportunities for new projects and sales in Asia. We view the SEUS-CP Conference as a valuable tool in its export and growth objectives and have participated in three of the six conferences to date.”
Smart Learning Solutions, was a first-time participant in the conference.
“What a fantastic forum to exchange information, explore common business interests and establish new connections,” said Sharon Dominey, President, Smart Learning Solutions. “The conference was a great catalyst for numerous continued discussions."
Established in 2007, the SEUS-CP Alliance is a strategic trade partnership between six southeastern states (Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama) and seven Canadian provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba).
Media contacts:
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Heather MacLean Director of Communications Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development 709-729-4570, 697-4137 heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca |
Paul Mitten Vice-President, Compusult mitten@compusult.net |
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Sharon Dominey, President Smart Learning Solutions sharondominey@smartlearningsolutions.ca |
2013 07 18 2:10 p.m.