Opportunities in the areas of both Fisheries and Tourism will highlight a visit by the Minister to England and Ireland.
Honourable Kevin J. MacAdam says, "This is a region where we have established relationships, considerable interest in new initiatives and, therefore, more opportunities for Island companies."
The Minister will meet with tourism officials in County Monaghan, Ireland, next week, building on established links between Monaghan and Prince Edward Island. He will speak at the monthly meeting of the Monaghan County Council and meet with the Monaghan County Tourism Committee. He will also meet an Irish music group which is planning a visit to Prince Edward Island in July of this year.
On the Fisheries side, the Minister has arranged to meet and tour the facilities of a number of companies which have, or are exploring, associations with Island companies. Opportunities for the lobster industry will be the focus of a meeting with Ballymoney Foods Ltd., located in Antrim, near Belfast. The company has a contract with the Prince Edward Island Food Technology Centre and has some interest in additional linkages with the Island.
Processing and technology transfer opportunities will be explored during a visit to the Erigall Fisheries which recently installed a crab processing line supplied by Charlottetown Metal Products. Visits will also be made to several other companies that are interested in Island fish processing technology.
Minister MacAdam will attend the International Food Exhibition in London on February 9th and meet with several companies involved in the fishery, as well as following up on the potential supply of products.
A representative of the Food Technology Centre will take part in some aspects of the visit and MLA, Andy Mooney, Chair of the Legislative Committee on Fisheries, Inter-governmental Affairs and Transportation will also take part.