Forty-three Atlantic Canadian companies are packing their bags – they are heading to Chicago, Illinois, where they will explore potential business opportunities on Team Canada Atlantic’s first trade mission to the Midwest region of the United States.
The names of the participants were announced today, and among them are seven companies and organizations from Prince Edward Island. The Team Canada Atlantic trade mission to Chicago is scheduled for April 10-14, 2005.
“The upcoming Team Canada Atlantic trade mission to Chicago will help participating companies enter and expand into this lucrative U.S. market and will allow Atlantic Canada to further build on its reputation as a growing exporter of quality goods and services,” said the Honourable Joe McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
Atlantic Canada exports have increased by 110 per cent over the past decade, rising from $9.3 billion in 1994 to $19.5 billion in 2003.
“Trade missions provide Island exporters with access to international markets to maintain, create, and increase their export capabilities,” said Premier Binns. “This Government of Prince Edward Island supports the Island business community and those companies looking to explore the advantages of trade and export with potential markets in the United States, and in this instance, Chicago, the third largest metropolitan area in the United States.”
According to Statistics Canada, Atlantic Canadian exports to the state of Illinois were approximately $255 million in 2003, while total Atlantic Canadian exports to the United States were $15.8 billion.
Team Canada Atlantic is a partnership of ACOA, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Industry Canada, Foreign Affairs Canada, International Trade Canada and the four Atlantic provinces. Team Canada Atlantic is committed to strengthening the trade and investment relationship between Atlantic Canada and the United States.
Trade missions have been at the core of the Team Canada Atlantic approach since 1999. Nine trade missions to the New England states, Atlanta, New York, and Washington have helped more than 300 Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs to meet with nearly 2,500 buyers, agents and business owners from across the United States, resulting in export sales in excess of $35 million.
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Complete List of Participating Companies and Organizations
Prince Edward Island
Canadian Mussels, Ltd. (Montague); Fiber Connections Inc. (Summerside); Holland College (Charlottetown); PEI Mussel King (Morell); Ravenwood Stairways (Elmsdale); Storemark Quality Fixtures (Pooles Corner); Vision Research Inc. (Charlottetown)
Newfoundland and Labrador
Compusult Limited (Mount Pearl); iDance (St. John’s); Labrador Preserves (Forteau); Meditrain (St.John’s); Nearshore Atlantic (St. John’s); Systems ‘N’ Solutions Ltd. (St. John’s); Terra Nova Industries Limited (Glovertown); thedog8it! (St. John’s); Torngait Ujaganniavingit Corporation (Nain); Unity Bay Energy Ltd. (St. John’s); Verafin Inc. (St. John’s), Wholesome Dairy Limited (Stephenville)
New Brunswick
Apex Industries Inc. (Moncton), Computer Generated Solutions, Canada Ltd. (Saint John); Craig Manufacturing Ltd. & Microbotic Digital Machining (Hartland); GoSource (Moncton); Granite Town Farms Ltd. (St. George); LabMentors Inc. (Fredericton); L.B. Manufacturing Inc. (Dieppe); Etang Ruisseau Bar Ltd. (Shippagan); MedBridge Systems (Fredericton); Northumberland Co-operative Ltd. (Miramichi); Ocean Legacy Inc. (L’Etang); Saint John Port Authority (Saint John)
Nova Scotia
Abridean Inc. (Halifax); IQUB/The Bitz (Sackville); C-Vision (Halifax); Eden Valley Farms (ACA Co-operative Ltd.) (Kentville); Fineline Fuel Systems (Truro); Fundy Composites Limited (Halifax); Halifax Port Authority (Halifax); LaHave Audio Products (Bridgewater); Music Management International (Dartmouth); Nova Scotia Textiles Ltd. (Windsor); Trail Blazer (Dartmouth); Van Dyk’s Health Juice Products Ltd. (Kentville)
Visit www.teamcanadatlantic.com for more information.