A group of 46 Atlantic Canadian companies and organizations landed yesterday in Miami, Florida, and their visit to the sunshine state is all about business. The companies are participating in a Team Canada Atlantic (TCA) trade mission.
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs Canada and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Senator Donald Oliver and the four Atlantic Canadian Premiers are leading this mission to Miami and Orlando.
“Exporting is key to business success for Atlantic Canadian companies and to economic growth for the region,” said Minister MacKay. “With exports creating one out of every three jobs in Atlantic Canada, trade and investment activities are essential to our economic growth. Team Canada Atlantic strengthens the trade and investment relationship between Atlantic Canada and the United States.”
“Prince Edward Island businesses continue to experience impressive results from positive relationships they have developed with US companies,” said the Honourable Premier of Prince Edward Island Pat Binns. “The Province’s exports of merchandise goods to international destinations increased by 21.4 per cent in 2005, the highest rate of growth in Canada. The Government of Prince Edward Island is pleased to be a partner of Team Canada Atlantic in an effort to strengthen our trade relationship with the Florida market.”
Over the next few days, companies and organizations participating in the trade mission will have the opportunity to meet with businesses and industry leaders in a number of sectors. The Florida markets offer export opportunities in the areas of advanced manufacturing, including aerospace and defence; agri-food and seafood; building and construction products; consumer products; information communications technology; life sciences; and ocean industries, including boat building.
TCA is a partnership of ACOA, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Industry Canada, Foreign Affairs Canada, International Trade Canada and the four Atlantic Provinces.
Eleven previous trade missions – to the New England states, Atlanta, New York, Washington D.C., and Chicago – have helped 360 Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs to meet with close to
3,000 agents and business owners from across the United States, resulting in export sales of more than of $37 million.
Visit www.teamcanadaatlantic.com for more information.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Complete List of Participating Companies and Organizations
Nova Scotia
Aylward Fiberglass Inc. (Barrington); Bigfoot Systems Inc. (Martin’s Point); Burnt Out Solutions Inc. (New Minas); Canadian Informatics Consultants Ltd. (Timberlea); ECCO Environmental Consulting & Contracting Inc. (Dartmouth); Halifax Port Authority (Halifax); IQUB/The Bitz (Sackville); JW Mason & Sons Ltd. (Windsor); Lunenburg Foundry and Engineering Ltd. (Lunenburg); MacLeod Resources Ltd. (River Denys); Nova Scotia Arctic Charr (Truro); The Cider House Company (Grand Pre); V1 Labs (Halifax)
New Brunswick
All-Wood Stairs Mfg. Ltd. (Notre-Dame); Cube Automation Inc. (Tracadie-Sheila); Fancy Pokket Corporation (Moncton); Ocean Pier Inc. (Scoudouc); St-Paul Fisheries (1989) Ltd. (Caraquet); P & E Manufacturing Ltd. (Bas Cap-Pelé); Professional Quality Assurance Ltd. (Fredericton); PropertyGuys.com (Moncton); Provinent Corporation (Fredericton); R.E.S. Enterprises (Fredericton); New Brunswick Aerospace and Defence Association (Fredericton); Saint John Port Authority (Saint John); Belledune Port Authority (Belledune); East Coast Seafood/Paturel International Co. (Deer Island); Tropical Shipping (Saint John)
Newfoundland and Labrador
Compusult Limited (Mount Pearl); Corner Brook Port Corporation (Corner Brook); Humber Valley Paving (Corner Brook); Med Atlantic Ltd. (Paradise); MedicLINK Systems (St. John’s); Motion Networks (Torbay); Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries (St. John’s); Plato Group (St. John’s); Q5 Systems Ltd. (St. John’s); St. John’s Port Authority (St. John’s); Tacamor Inc. (Placentia), Tiller Engineering Inc. (St. John’s); Yates Boatbuilding International Inc. (Springdale)
Prince Edward Island
Advantage Communications Inc. (Charlottetown); Prince Edward Island BioAlliance (Charlottetown); Ravenwood Stairways (Alberton); Storemark Quality Fixtures (Pooles Corner); WebSMB Solutions (Charlottetown)