For the past three years, Atlantech staff have been travelling on trade missions to Chile promoting their products and services to the rapidly emerging salmon aquaculture production and processing industry.
Atlantech is in the initial stages of its marketing efforts in Chile. Future annual export sales to Chile are projected to reach $5 million Canadian. Atlantech will begin with design-built contracts to supply individual land-based smolt production facilities to be located in the X (Tenth) Region of Chile.
"Hard work and determination has certainly paid off for Doug Wright and his company," said the Honourable Mike Currie, Minister of Development and Technology. "By aggressively pursuing niche markets in Chile, this company has created new sales and increased employment, both of which benefit Atlantech Companies and our provincial economy."
Atlantech designs and manufactures water recirculation and effluent treatment technologies to the land-based aquaculture and food processing industries. Most recently, the company has developed a system specifically for its growing market in Chile. The "water recirculating technology" system allows the aquaculture industry to maximize production and maintain environmental regulations by controlling all water quality parameters.
"We have been watching the Chilean salmon aquaculture industry grow at a rate of 20-40 per cent per year to become the largest salmon producer in the world, surpassing Norway," said Doug Wright, owner and president of Atlantech Engineering.
"To address technology challenges that Chile is now facing, we have developed a water recirculation technology which allows intensive production of salmon smolt and salmon broodstock on land, requiring very little water supply and effluent discharge."
In June 2002, Atlantech established a branch office in Puerto Montt in an effort to concentrate on the Chilean aquaculture and food processing market.
"Understanding that this market is 22 hours away by air and is predominantly a Spanish speaking country, establishing a local presence was essential for providing direct contact with customers and looking after sales support service of our Canadian products," Wright commented.
Atlantech Companies is a PEI-based group of companies located in the West Royalty Business Park. Atlantech employs 16 full-time staff and 10 seasonal staff.
Chile is an important market for aquaculture and related products and services. Prince Edward Island continues to see great success from this area of the globe as it has already participated in three previous missions to this region.
Prince Edward Island Business Development (PEIBD) will also be involved in upcoming trade missions to markets in Mexico, Asia, Barbados, Florida, Ireland, Washington and New England. For more information on trade missions, please the Trade and Export Division at PEIBD at telephone: (902) 368-6300.