Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
July 10, 2015

Strengthening the Economy Through International Collaboration

Minister Participates in Our Ocean Wealth Conference in Ireland

The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, is in Ireland today participating in the second annual Our Ocean Wealth conference in Cork County. The conference is an annual evaluation of the implementation of Ireland’s Harnessing Our Wealth industry review. The event focuses on sustainable growth and employment opportunities, as well as the challenges facing the industry.

“Today, both Ireland and Newfoundland and Labrador are seeking to leverage our shared oceans capabilities for business and economic development, focused largely on research and innovation. Based on existing ties, our respective ocean technology clusters are ideally positioned to continue to collaborate and take advantage of new drivers in the marine and ocean technology industry. Conferences like Our Ocean Wealth provide ideal opportunities to build on existing collaborations, strengthen our relationships and facilitate new partnerships with the Irish industry.”
- The Honorable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

Minister King co-hosted the conference’s opening reception along with SmartOcean Ireland and addressed conference participants at the opening plenary session this morning. The session focused on the challenges facing the ocean technology industry and the actions required to stimulate progress. Enda Kenny, Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland, was also in attendance.

“The Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development is actively driving government’s diversification agenda, with a particular emphasis on encouraging development of our advanced technology sectors, while remaining steadfast in our commitment to leveraging the opportunities in the cultural sector. Participation in events of this nature provide valuable opportunities to share our goals, while supporting the development of our growth sectors, ensuring that we create the optimal conditions to promote investment and enable growth.”
- Minister King

Eleven Newfoundland and Labrador organizations are participating in the Our Ocean Wealth Conference as well as exploring trade and business opportunities in Ireland. A list of delegates can be found in the backgrounder below. Additional information on the conference can be found at: www.ouroceanwealth.ie opens new window.

QUICK FACTS:

  • The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, participated in Ireland’s annual Our Ocean Wealth conference today in Cork, Ireland.
  • Our Ocean Wealth Conference is an annual review of the implementation of Ireland’s Harnessing Our Wealth industry review, focusing on sustainable growth, as well as the challenges facing the industry.
  • Information on the conference can be found at: www.ouroceanwealth.ie opens new window.

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Media contact:

Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
709-729-4570, 693-1865
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

The following companies and organizations from Newfoundland and Labrador are in attendance at the Oceans Wealth Conference

  • Amber Music
  • Battery Radio
  • College of the North Atlantic
  • C-Core
  • Independent Consultants Group Limited
  • Marine Institute
  • Morag Loves Company
  • Memorial University
  • Start Up NL
  • Town of Holyrood
  • Virtual Marine Technology

2015 07 10                              11:35 a.m.