Several top site selectors were educated on the advantages of doing business in Atlantic Canada yesterday as they met with the four Atlantic Canadian Premiers and the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) in New York.
"Site selectors" are consultants who help expanding companies find the best possible location for their business in international markets. Site selectors are the consultants of choice to 35 percent of CEOs in the United States and play a major role in the decision-making process as it relates to relocation, real estate and expansion of American companies.
Eleven top site selectors took part in the meeting which was held in conjunction with Team Canada Atlantic's trade mission to New York. Minister Byrne noted, "There are many advantages for any company thinking about doing business in Atlantic Canada. Cost is one of the most obvious. A recent study showed that our region holds a nearly 10 percent cost advantage, compared to the United States, over nine industrial sectors."
Premier Binns agreed that doing business in Atlantic Canada can help a company improve its bottom line, pointing out that Charlottetown was identified as the lowest cost capital city in Canada in KPMG's 2002 Competitive Alternatives Study.
"Prince Edward Island has successfully attracted many international companies with our impressive cost advantages," said Premier Binns. "Businesses in our province also credit our highly skilled and dedicated workforce to their success which is another key selling point. Ideally, this meeting will help place Atlantic Canada at the top of the list when these consultants are recommending locations to their corporate clients."
Following this meeting, Minister Byrne and the four Premiers were guest panellists at a forum coordinated with the support of the Metropolitan Corporate Council and the World Affairs Council. The forum, primarily attended by business executives from the tri-state area who provide strategic investment and trade advice to large corporations, was another opportunity to sell Atlantic Canada as a business location to a group of key individuals.
The Team Canada Atlantic Mission to New York City is a cooperative effort between ACOA, the four Atlantic Provinces, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Industry Canada and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.
Additional information and recent photos from Team Canada Atlantic's trade mission to New York City can be found at www.TeamCanadaAtlantic.com.