Five Island companies will depart tomorrow on a trade mission to Boston in an effort to make business contacts and generate sales for the Island's growing technology industry.
"Boston is one of the leading centres of the American high tech industry," said Don MacKinnon, Minister of Development. "Island companies in the technology field are well aware of the need to find markets outside of the province. We are more than pleased to assist in their search of new business opportunities in the Boston area."
The companies participating in this trade mission will be selling software products, high tech solutions and call centre services to prospective companies in Boston's lucrative IT community.
"Boston, and all of the New England area, is experiencing a sustained economic boom that is accompanied by a very tight labour market," said Minister MacKinnon. "This presents tremendous opportunities for Island companies in all sectors. Exporting services is an ideal way for companies on Prince Edward Island to increase their sales and profitability, especially to US markets where the value of our dollar makes our services less expensive for American companies."
The five companies doing business in Boston are: Timeless Technologies, Deltaware, On-Line Support, Advantage Communications and NR Computronics.
The province, through Prince Edward Island Business Development (PEIBD), is providing the service of a Boston-based consultant whose role is to arrange sales meetings for each company. The companies themselves are responsible for travel and lodging costs.
Advantage Communications, a Charlottetown-based call centre facility specializing in inbound and outbound customer service and field research, is participating for the first time in a trade mission.
"Currently, many of our clients are disbursed throughout the US," said Al Fogarty, President of Advantage Communications. "Through this trade mission, we're being given the opportunity to expand our business into the Boston market. This is one of the largest markets in the US and is an area where we've yet to establish business. We're very excited to be a part of the Island delegation and look forward to meeting with a number of potential clients."
This mission is the first of a number of trade missions to the New England area, under the New England Export Program. The program is an initiative of the provincial government through Prince Edward Island Business Development (PEIBD), the lead business development corporation for the province. Through its Trade and Export Division, PEIBD assists Island businesses in the development of export markets and the pursuit of specific export opportunities.