A trade mission to Ontario next week will likely be Prince Edward Island’s largest ever, expanding on business relationships built during the two provinces’ mission to India in February.
“Canada’s largest and smallest provinces made some important connections with India and with each other during that mission,” Economic Development and Tourism Minister Heath MacDonald said. “As a pilot project of our Sales PEI initiative, this mission will deepen those relationships and show that Prince Edward Island works together to expand our exports, create jobs, and grow our provincial economy.”
More than 21 companies are scheduled to attend the June 13-15 mission, making it perhaps the largest Prince Edward Island has ever conducted. Ontario – and specifically the greater Toronto area – is the No. 1 domestic export market for Island products.
The mission will showcase Island trade and investment while promoting the Island’s abundant tourism opportunities and skilled workforce. The companies will follow-up with existing clients and explore new sales leads, while government representatives will work collaboratively to conduct meetings and networking events and connect with media representatives.
Some of the activities Prince Edward Island will engage in during the mission are:
• Innovation PEI and the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) will meet with leading insurance and financial services companies to promote UPEI’s new School of Mathematics and Computational Sciences, which should help attract financial services firms to Prince Edward Island since if offers the only comprehensive actuarial science, data analytics, and fund management curriculum in Atlantic Canada.
• Tourism PEI will engage more than 40 tourism writers, bloggers, reporters, and editors to pitch stories about Prince Edward Island as a premiere vacation destination.
• The Food Island Partnership, the departments of Fisheries & Agriculture and Workforce & Advanced Learning, and Tourism PEI are collaborating on a closing networking reception with the theme of “Canada’s Food Island” targeted all mission participants met over the three days, as well as Island expats living in the greater Toronto area and key buyers of Island products.
“As active exporters, we have participated in several business missions but as we complete the Grow Export pilot program with the first cohort, this was an ideal opportunity to attend a domestic mission,” said Jackson Platts, general manager of PEI Juiceworks. “Our primary interest in this initiative is to create partnerships in targeted areas where our products aren’t currently available.”
Sales PEI supports government’s commitment to increase Prince Edward Island’s profile on the world stage. This includes creating an aggressive strategy to expand our sales and our workforce by bringing new companies to Prince Edward Island and creating new markets for our products and services.
Backgrounder
Companies attending the Prince Edward Island trade mission to Ontario June 13 to 15 (list subject to change):
• Pendylum Software (ICT solutions)
• Mid-Isle Farms (seed and table potatoes)
• Raspberry Point Oysters (seafood)
• Cows (cheese)
• PEI Juice Works (agrifood)
• Sandwich Inc. (ICT company)
• Suncountry Safety Wear (footwear/clothing)
• Adrok (engineering services)
• Bamtext (ICT solutions)
• iWave – (ICT solutions)
• OnSet Communications/Springhead (media/ICT game development)
• PEI Potato Board (agrifood)
• DI Jenkins (agrifood)
• Professional Fee Protection Inc. (professional services)
• Prince Edward Aqua Farms (seafood)
• Holland College (education services)
• Atlantic Aqua Farms (seafood)
• Atlantic Beef Products (agrifood)
• UPEI School of Mathematics and Computational Sciences (education)
• P.E.I. Bag Company
• Dogwood Siding