Prince Edward Island companies on the Team Canada Atlantic trade mission to Atlanta participated in over 20 matchmaking sessions with Atlanta companies during the second day of the three-day event. Several of the Island companies are involved in the Information Technology (IT) field and have already made some successful connections in Atlanta.
Future Learning Inc, a Charlottetown-based e-learning company which specializes in helping organizations use educational technologies effectively, developed an alliance with Axcess Knowledge of Georgia yesterday. According to Future Learning Vice-President Terry Allen, this was one matchmaking session that exceeded the company's expectations.
"Axcess Knowledge is a major e-learning firm that already has several clients lined up. It turned out that they needed a product such as ours to help them fulfil their contracts – it was a perfect match," said Allen.
Representatives from Softworld 2002, hosts of the annual IT forum to be held in Charlottetown in September 2002, are also meeting with Atlanta companies to foster alliances with international IT companies as well as explore research and development opportunities. The group has also made some crucial connections in Atlanta including the local Chamber of Commerce.
"The contact at the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce has opened some new doors for us in terms of developing a strong program for our conference such as lining up key speakers," said Softworld 2002 Chair Ken Gillis. "We also obtained the complete directory listing for this group of 7,000 which will help us in creating interest and awareness in our event."
Other Island IT-related companies, Business Technology Consulting, Spell Read Canada and Baseline Business Geographics, are also securing beneficial contacts for their organizations.
These companies joined the other Atlantic Canadian IT companies and over 400 invited guests at the First Tuesday event. First Tuesday is a global networking organization that brings together entrepreneurs, investors and others active in the IT business.
The focus was on Atlantic Canada at First Tuesday, and PEI Premier Pat Binns addressed the group to promote Atlantic Canada and to encourage attendees to consider the benefits of working with Atlantic Canadian companies.
"Atlantic Canada is quickly becoming a hotbed of activity for knowledge-based businesses, and our companies are involved in some pioneering work in information technology and telecommunications such as tele-medicine and tele-education," said Premier Binns. "Furthermore, our region has been identified by independent KPMG studies as one of the top places to do business in the world. Add to that some significantly lower costs in key areas as well as a highly skilled workforce, and you start to see why Atlantic Canada is such a good place to do business."
The Premier also extended a personal invitation to those in attendance to visit Atlantic Canada to see firsthand the strides being made in the IT industry in the region as well as to explore the potential of the area.
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.