Eleven Atlantic Canadian companies recently returned home from Brussels after attending the largest seafood show in the world. The European Seafood Show, which took place from May 9-11 in Brussels, showcased Atlantic Canadian seafood producers on an international stage, generating sales and improving buyer relationships with Europe.
There were 1250 exhibitors representing 47 countries at this year's show. This was the first year that a pavilion was dedicated to the Atlantic Canadian region. The Canada/Atlantic Provinces COOPERATION Agreement on International Business Development (IBDA) assisted the Atlantic pavilion at the show by funding a 78 square-metre display booth. This booth created an attractive image for Atlantic producers that matched buyers' perceptions of Canada and its quality products.
Europe is an important market for Atlantic Canadian seafood producers. In 1999, $170 million in seafood sales were sold to Europe, much of this generated during the European Seafood Show.
Polar Foods International, a seafood producer from Prince Edward Island, was one of the companies exhibiting at this year's European Seafood Show. "It was a great opportunity to meet the people I currently do business with and discuss what will take place in the upcoming year," said Ken MacDonald, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Polar Foods International. "The show generated plenty of interest in our products."
The eleven Atlantic Canadian companies that participated at the seafood show in Brussels included: Atlantic Canada Seafood Marketing Group (PEI,NS,NF, and NB); Polar Foods International Inc. (PEI); Newfoundland Seafood Market Council (NF); Sogelco International (PEI,NB); Produits Belle Baie Ltee (NB); Orion Seafood Group (NB); Island Fishermens Cooperative Association (NB); Leslie Leger and Sons Ltd (NB); Fishery Products International (NF); Seabay Fishing Service Ltd (NS); and Trico Seafood (NB).
The IBDA is a pan-Atlantic trade agreement between the four provincial governments and the federal government, represented by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Industry Canada. The IBDA 's mandate is to optimize regional coordination in international business development on a pan-Atlantic scale and to combine limited resources to coordinate trade-related activities.