August 15, 2005
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
An official opening is taking place in Selfoss, Iceland
today for a model home constructed by Icelandic contractor
SG-Hus using Newfoundland and Labrador products and
technology. The project, which was coordinated by the
Eastern Newfoundland Home Builders' Association (ENHBA),
will market Newfoundland and Labrador building products and
services.On hand for the official opening and ribbon cutting are:
Richard Têtu, Canada's Ambassador to Iceland; the
Honourable Árni Magnússon, Iceland's Minister of Social
Affairs; the Honourable Jack Byrne, Minister of the
Provincial Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs;
Jane Morgan, president of the ENHBA; Rhonda Day, chief
executive officer of the ENHBA; Oskar G. Jonsson, general
manager, SG-Hus; Iromi Amit, manager, Canada Mortgage and
Housing Corporation International, Atlantic Region; and
Mike Howley, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency's
(ACOA's) account manager for this project. An open house
for the public in Iceland to view the model home will take
place from August 19th -20th.
ACOA has been involved with the initiative for the past few
years, and is investing $172,545 towards the marketing and
promotion of the model home and the local building products
used for its construction.
"This is a unique opportunity to showcase the expertise of
Newfoundland and Labrador companies in the Icelandic market
and to build stronger partnerships between companies in
these two places," said the Honourable Joseph McGuire,
Minister of ACOA. "For the past number of years, the
Atlantic region has been making great strides in export
development and the model home in Iceland will help support
further efforts to reach global market".
The ENHBA, along with federal and provincial government
representatives, attended an international home building
trade show in Iceland a few years ago to assess
opportunities for Newfoundland and Labrador companies.
This visit identified a strong level of interest in local
building products and services and in joint venturing
between Icelandic and local firms to supply European
markets. From there, the idea of constructing a model home
took root."I congratulate the Eastern Newfoundland Home Builders'
Association and its members for establishing this joint
venture," said Minister Byrne, on behalf of Kathy
Dunderdale, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural
Development, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, whose
department has supported the consortium as a way for
smaller Newfoundland and Labrador companies to compete
successfully as a group in export markets. "Iceland is
similar in size to Newfoundland, imports much of its
homebuilding products, and has a growing market for new
housing. I look forward to increased trade between our two
countries."Canadian housing technologies have rapidly spread in many
countries over the last decade. In Iceland, where timber
has to be imported, concrete is often used for home
construction, although there are some wood frame houses."Through this partnership, Icelanders will have an easier
way to access the benefits of timber frame home
construction, such as its excellent quality, faster
construction, lower cost and energy efficiency," said
Rhonda Day, chief executive officer, ENHBA. "The model
home enables people in Iceland to see first hand the kind
of house that can be built in cooperation with our
Newfoundland and Labrador companies."The Newfoundland Building Supply Consortium has been
established to supply market needs and serve as a focal
point for ongoing market development. Members include:
Jamestown Lumber, LeDrew's Lumber, NuWay Kitchens, Terra
Nova Trusses, Weathershore Windows, New Wood Manufacturing,
J T Martin & Sons, Carew Landscaping, K & P Contracting,
Colette Nap Architect, Garnet Kindervater Limited and AIMS
Limited.
The model home is the first in Iceland to be registered as
a Super E®home. Super E®members construct high quality,
energy efficient homes to the Super E®standard, which is
based upon the Canadian R-2000 standard and adapted for
local climates. Each Super E®home is registered, tested
and recognized by the Government of Canada with a
certificate of recognition. Super E®members are comprised
of partnerships between Canadian exporters and builders in
export markets.
Other partners in this initiative include: Industry Canada,
International Trade Canada (Canadian Embassy in Iceland),
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Natural
Resources Canada.
For a digital photo of the model home in Selfoss, Iceland
please go to the following web link:
http://www/acoa-apeca.gc.ca/e/media/press/release_images/icelandmodelhome.jpgFOR BROADCAST USE ONLY:An official opening is taking place in Selfoss, Iceland
today for a model home constructed by Icelandic contractor
SG-Hus using Newfoundland and Labrador products and
technology. The project was coordinated by the Eastern
Newfoundland Home Builders' Association to market
Newfoundland and Labrador building products and services.
In Iceland, where timber has to be imported, concrete is
often used for home construction. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency has been involved
with the initiative for the past few years, and is
investing $172,545 towards the marketing and promotion of
the model home and the local building products used for its
construction. A consortium of companies in the province's building
products sector has been established to supply market needs
and serve as a focal point for ongoing market development.
-30-
Valérie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 941-7241
Doug Burgess
Director, Public Affairs
ACOA
(709) 772-2935
Rhonda Day
Chief Executive Officer
R-2000 Regional Manager
Eastern Newfoundland Home Builders' Association
(709) 753-2000
Kristbjorg Ágústsdóttir
Trade Commissioner, Canadian Embassy in Iceland
(354) 575-6505
kristbjorg.agustsdottir@international.gc.ca
Newfoundland Building Supply Consortium
The Newfoundland Building Supply Consortium is a strategic
alliance comprised of 12 companies interested in pursuing
new exporting opportunities for the construction of
Canadian wood frame housing. The Eastern Newfoundland Home
Builders'
Association has acted as a sponsor for the initiative by
serving as the administrator
for financing, use of facilities, and encouraging
participation of its members.The companies in the consortium are all well-established
and leading businesses that have the capacity and resources
necessary to participate in this initiative. A few of the
companies are already exporting products or services, some
have been preparing to export and several have no
experience exporting.The consortium was created in order to pool the
capabilities and expertise of the companies, each of which
has unique skill sets or products to bring to the group.
Collectively, they can supply approximately 75% of the
products and services needed to build a complete house.
Companies involved include:- Jamestown Lumber
- LeDrew's Lumber
- NuWay Kitchens
- Terra Nova Trusses
- Weathershore Windows
- New Wood Manufacturing
- J T Martin & Sons
- Carew Landscaping
- K & P Contracting
- Colette Nap Architect
- Garnet Kindervater Limited
- AIMS LimitedAfter considerable research and visits by company
representatives, Iceland was identified as a
logical "country of choice" for the consortium to start
exporting. Like Newfoundland and Labrador, it is located in
the North Atlantic, is similar in size and has a small
population. Iceland has high per capita incomes, and
imports most of its homebuilding products. The housing
market in Iceland is growing for both new home construction
and renovations. Annually, housing starts range from 1,500
to 1,600, which are mostly around the Reykjavik area.
Iceland represents a market where consortium members can
start gradually, develop relationships with Icelandic
partners, and begin exporting with minimal risk. During the first visit to Iceland in 2001, representatives
of the Newfoundland Building Supply Consortium received an
excellent reception, especially with the Federation of
Icelandic Industries. The federation expressed interest in
timber frame construction products and services for
Iceland, as well as forming an alliance which could supply
such products to other Scandinavian countries and the
European Union.Since then, representatives of the consortium have visited
Iceland again, there have been return visits to
Newfoundland and Labrador by the Icelandic companies, and
strong business relationships have been formed.A joint venture arrangement was established with SG`Hus, a
reputable Icelandic contractor, to construct the model
Canadian wood frame house in Selfoss. Other contractors
are also interested in building Canadian style homes in
partnership with the consortium and there is strong
interest from building supply distributors and wholesalers
in importing products from Newfoundland and Labrador.
