Trade Team Prince Edward Island (TTPEI) and the PEI BioAlliance are traveling to the United Kingdom with seven bioscience companies to help build and strengthen export ties between both markets.
“Our government understands the importance the bioscience industry plays in the growth of the Atlantic Canadian economy,” said the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway. “Investing in trade missions such as this, will help Atlantic bioscience-based businesses prosper in the international export markets.”
Trade Team PEI is a partnership network of federal and provincial government agencies and departments committed to helping PEI-based trade and export-focussed businesses succeed in their pursuit of new global development opportunities.
“I’m pleased to see Trade Team PEI making this trip to explore exciting new trade opportunities in the United Kingdom,” said the Honourable Allan Campbell, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning. “Bioscience is a key part of the province’s economy that government targeted for growth in its economic strategy, Island Prosperity: A Focus for Change. We look forward to developing closer ties with the United Kingdom and other global markets to help the Island’s bioscience sector continue to thrive.”
The mission to the United Kingdom is the third trade mission of the 2010-2011 trade calendar. It is taking place from December 6 to 10, 2010. The trade mission, in partnership with the PEI BioAlliance, involves representatives from seven bioscience companies.
Over the course of the five-day mission, each company will participate in a series of prearranged business-to-business meetings, tour bioscience business and research facilities, and participate in two bioscience-focused conferences including Genesis 2010 a major British biotechnology networking conference. Five of the participating companies will also have the opportunity to present their business and research capabilities to the bioscience conferences.
Rory Francis, Executive Director of the PEI BioAlliance said the areas of market focus for the mission include natural health products- cosmetic ingredients, nutritional supplements, and other health products developed from plants and marine sources. “This mission allows us to further build our relationships with business partners that represent important routes to European markets for products being commercialized in PEI”, said Mr. Francis.
Trade Team PEI, led by ACOA and Innovation PEI, plays a key role in planning activities and delivering programs that are designed to help small-and medium-sized businesses effectively compete as exporters.