November 4, 2004 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A delegation of Atlantic Canadian companies will market their marine-related products and services at two trade shows on the west coast this month: "Fish Canada / Workboat Canada West" in Vancouver, British Columbia, from November 5-8, 2004 and the "Pacific Marine Expo" in Seattle, Washington, from November 11-13, 2004 "In the last Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada identified trade and investment as one of the five pillars in its economic strategy," said the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "Exporting is vital to the growth of SMEs and to the overall economic growth of Atlantic Canada. Trade initiatives like these are helping companies explore new markets and increase their exports sales." "Newfoundland and Labrador has a long-standing attachment to the marine industry," said Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. "These two shows on the west coast of North America provide an opportunity for our companies to expand their markets, export their products and technologies, and learn about opportunities on the Pacific coast." The Government of Canada and the four Atlantic provinces are investing in these trade missions through the Canada/Atlantic Provinces Agreement on International Business (IBDA). The IBDA is a federal/provincial trade initiative designed to help small to medium-sized companies (SMEs) from Atlantic Canada enter, explore and succeed in international markets. The Agreement involves four federal departments - the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Industry Canada, Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada - and the four Atlantic Canadian provinces. Since 1994, the IBDA has provided support to more than 65 international trade missions. Exit surveys administered by ACOA indicate that 34 per cent of companies that participated in an IBDA-sponsored trade activity for the first time have since begun exporting internationally. Forty per cent of the companies already exporting reported an increase in the volume of their exports and 30 per cent started exporting to new markets as a result of an IBDA activity. FOR BROADCAST USE: A delegation of Atlantic Canadian companies will exhibit their marine-related products and services at two trade shows this month: "Fish Canada /Workboat Canada West" will take place in Vancouver, British Columbia, from November 5- 8, 2004 followed by the "Pacific Marine Expo" in Seattle, Washington, from November 11-13, 2004. The Government of Canada and the four Atlantic provinces are investing in these trade missions through the International Business Development Agreement - a federal/provincial trade initiative designed to help small to medium-sized companies (SMEs) from Atlantic Canada enter, explore and succeed in international markets. Since 1994, this Agreement has provided support to more than 65 international trade missions, helping companies from across the region begin exporting in markets around the world. The Agreement involves four federal departments - the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Industry Canada, Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada - and the four Atlantic Canadian provinces. - 30 - For more information, contact: Valérie Poulin Director of Communications Office of the Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (613) 941-4227 Tracy Kenney Senior Communications Officer Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (506) 851-2639 Lynn Evans Director of Communications Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development (709) 729-4570
