The first full day of trade mission activity for Team Canada Atlantic delegates has confirmed mission coordinators' expectations that Atlanta, Georgia is an excellent choice for a trade mission destination. Ten Island companies are participating on the mission and early indications point towards yet another successful trade event for the Atlantic Canadian delegation.
The 39 Atlantic Canadian companies on the mission received some extra support from Prime Minister Jean Chretien who joined the group in Atlanta today and held an interactive Team Canada forum this morning and hosted a VIP reception today for the delegates and invited Atlanta guests.
The Prime Minister, accompanied by Atlantic Canadian premiers, International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew and Industry Minister Brian Tobin, applauded the team approach the Atlantic Canada region is taking in securing new opportunities, citing past trade mission success as an excellent indicator of how well the region works together.
This is the fourth Team Canada Atlantic Trade Mission since 1999, but the previous three have all been to the New England states. With the Southern states being the fastest growing market in the U.S., Team Canada Atlantic is confident this trade mission will realize the same success for Atlantic Canadian companies as previous missions.
The Atlantic Canadian Food Industry was a key focus of the first day of the trade event with the "Taste of Atlantic Canada" reception held in the evening. The reception consisted of over 250 invited guests from the Southeast U.S. joining the 150 plus Atlantic Canada team members for an evening of Atlantic Canadian hospitality featuring regional food and entertainment.
Amalgamated Dairies Limited (ADL) is one of three food-related Island organizations on the mission. This is the third Team Canada Atlantic mission for ADL and, according to company representative Ron Dehmel, each mission offers the potential for new markets and increased business.
"These trade missions open the door to opportunities," said Dehmel. "We've made some major contacts on Team Canada Atlantic trade missions which have greatly impacted our business. The Southeast USA (SEUSA) market also holds some great potential for ADL. We have a few meetings lined up with distributors who could open up a whole new market for us."
York Point Farms and Atlantic Mussel Growers are also hoping to break into the profitable SEUSA market. Each company has several matchmaking sessions lined up over the next couple of days with Atlanta organizations including the Georgia Pork Association, International Farmers' Market, Inland Seafoods and Atlanta Foods International.
Other Island companies participating in the trade mission are Baseline Business Geographics Inc, Business Technology Consulting, Future Learning Solutions Inc, J. Perry Inc, Royalty Hardwoods, Spell Read P.A.T. Learning Systems Inc and Softworld 2002.
The Team Canada Atlantic Mission to Atlanta, Georgia, is being organized by ACOA, the four Atlantic provinces, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Industry Canada and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.
For more information and event photos from the Team Canada Atlantic Trade Mission to Atlanta taking place May 14-15, 2001, visit www.teamcanadaatlantic.com.