3 December 2010
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
From November 30 to December 3, 2010, the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, successfully led an Atlantic Canada business delegation of ten defence contractors and suppliers to EXPONAVAL 2010, Latin America's leading international conference and exhibition of technologies, equipment and services for naval defence industry.
Joining Minister Ashfield were representatives of businesses from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. The goal of this business mission was to take advantage of the opportunities to establish new business contacts and potential partnerships with Latin American buyers and contractors, and strengthen the export capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises from Atlantic Canada.
"I want to congratulate the Atlantic Canadian delegation for a strong presence at EXPONAVAL and for representing the talent and the capability of our defence industry," said Minister Ashfield. "They did a great job showcasing to the world that Atlantic Canada is positioned to become a supplier of choice to the defence and naval industry."
Regarded as one of the region's leading defence exhibitions, EXPONAVAL 2010 attracted more than 20,000 visitors from around the world with delegations from more than 60 countries in attendance and more than 150 companies displaying their products and promoting their services. Organizers expected to surpass the US$600 million in business conducted at the event in 2008.
During the business mission, Minister Ashfield and the Atlantic Canadian delegation met with industry leaders, government officials and leading defence and naval stakeholders from around the world. They participated in an Atlantic Canada-hosted reception, roundtable discussions with industry specialists, facilities tours, market familiarization briefings and business-to-business meetings. Their participation was designed to showcase Atlantic Canadian quality goods and services, gain knowledge about the Latin American industry, while making connections with major buyers in order to pursue sales and build greater commercial relations.
"We're very excited by the results of the mission," said Patrice Russo, Director Marketing and Sales for Virtual Marine Technology. "We have developed several new contacts and prospects for new contracts are very promising indeed."
International trade is a key driver of Atlantic Canada's economy. Guided by the Global Commerce Strategy, the Government of Canada is committed to building global partnerships that will lead to new jobs, new opportunities and stronger economies for Canadians. In 2009, two-way merchandise trade between Atlantic Canada and Latin America totalled almost $2.4 billion.
"By participating in this international trade show, we exposed Atlantic companies to many new export opportunities, in particular with Latin American defence and naval industry leaders," added Minister Ashfield. "This mission underscores once again the importance of our Government's commitment to fostering strong trade and export relationships with the rest of the world."
Atlantic Canada's participation in EXPONAVAL 2010 was the result of collaboration between ACOA and the World Trade Centre-Atlantic Canada. The Government of Canada contributed $160,000 toward the mission under ACOA's Business Development Program.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
ACOA Minister Keith Ashfield successfully led a delegation of ten defence contractors and suppliers to EXPONAVAL 2010. The biennial event is Latin America's largest international showcases for the naval defence industry.
Minister Ashfield said the business mission will help Atlantic Canadian defence industry firms establish valuable international contacts and successfully compete on the global stage.
International trade is a key driver of Atlantic Canada's economy. In 2009, two-way merchandise trade between Atlantic Canada and Latin America totalled almost $2.4 billion.
The Government of Canada, through ACOA, invested $160,000 toward this mission.
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INFORMATION:
Robert Bourgeois
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-851-6394
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER
The following Atlantic Canadian companies and organizations participated in the business mission to EXPONAVAL 2010 in Valparaiso, Chile, from November 30 to December 3, 2010.
New Brunswick:
Newfoundland and Labrador:
- Virtual Marine Technology (St. John's)
- Compusult (Mount Pearl)
Nova Scotia:
- ULTRA Electronics Maritime Systems (Dartmouth)
- JASCO Research (Halifax)
- Rosbourough Boats (Beechville)
- Tristar (Yarmouth)
- Metocean (Dartmouth)
- Martec (Halifax)
- L3 Communications (Enfield)
Other representatives:
- The Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Nova Scotia (ADIANS)
- Nova Scotia Business Inc. (Government of NS - Halifax)
