MONCTON (NB) – September 12, 2011 – The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie, will lead a delegation of 13 companies and organizations from Atlantic Canada to one of the world’s largest and most important defence and security exhibition – Defence and Security Equipment International 2011 (DSEi). This is the first-ever business mission the ACOA Minister will lead to this event, which runs from September 13-16, 2011 in London, England.
“Job creation and economic growth are priorities for our Government. To achieve this, we have been hard at work opening up new markets for Canadian businesses,” said Minister Valcourt. “Atlantic Canada’s aerospace and defence industry is world-class and has all the necessary skills, knowledge and innovation capabilities to successfully compete on the international stage. That is why it is very important for me to lead the first Atlantic delegation at this major trade show. I want to help to establish new business relations which may lead to the signing of important contracts. Ultimately, this will bring new jobs to Atlantic Canada and boost our economy.”
“DSEi is a key event on the global defence industry calendar, and we are very pleased that ACOA is organizing this business mission,” said Al Dillon, Executive Vice-President, Defence and Aerospace at Bluedrop Performance Learning, a leading edge training development company based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. “Attending this type of show within a government-led business mission provides us with opportunities that would otherwise be difficult to get on our own.”
DSEi is the world’s largest fully integrated international defence exhibition featuring land, sea and air products and technologies. Approximately 1,350 exhibitors from 40 countries are expected to participate. The show will be attended by 25,000 delegates, including aerospace and defence companies, suppliers and government officials from around the world, as well as by international journalists and trade professionals. Atlantic delegates will be part of the Atlantic Canada pavilion and will benefit from pre-arranged one-on-one business meetings, business networking events, market familiarization briefings, round-table discussions with key industry leaders, and site tours.
Atlantic Canada’s growing and diversified aerospace and defence industry, which employs over 10,000 skilled and experienced workers, is made up of a wide range of suppliers providing globally-competitive solutions and support to both the military and commercial markets domestically and internationally. The industry in Atlantic Canada has undergone a 231% growth in export revenues since 2001, generating annual revenues of C$1 billion.
Minister Valcourt will travel to Paris following the conclusion of the London business mission where he will meet with Abdou Diouf, Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie. While in Paris, the Minister will also meet with French Secretary of State Éric Lefebvre to discuss economic opportunities between Atlantic Canada and France. In addition, Minister Valcourt will host an economic roundtable with potential investors in Atlantic Canada.
Media who are interested in talking with Atlantic delegates at DSEi should contact the ADIANS at
1-902-483-5664 or catherine.macdonald@adians.ca.
For Broadcast Use:
Minister of State for ACOA and La Francophonie Bernard Valcourt is leading the first-ever Atlantic business mission to the Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition in London, England from September 13-16.
Minister Valcourt said he was proud to be leading the 13 Atlantic Canadian companies and organizations to this important defence industry event to open new markets abroad and create jobs for Atlantic Canadians.
The aerospace and defence industry is a major driver of Atlantic Canada’s economy and generates export revenues of C$1 billion annually.
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INFORMATION
Andrea Richer
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Valcourt
613-790-3637
Jennifer Goostrey
Manager, Client Services
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-851-4831
Catherine MacDonald
Managing Director
Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Nova Scotia (ADIANS)
1-902-483-5664
(This news release is available on the ACOA’s website at www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca under Media Room and photos will be available under Photo Album.)
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER
Following is a list of the Atlantic Canadian companies and organizations participating in the ACOA-led business mission to DSEi 2011, in London, England.
Atlantic Canadian companies
- 3 Points Machining and Aerospace: 3 Points Machining and Aerospace is a new subsidiary of 3 Points Aviation Corporation located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The company services and sells aerospace products such as airframe parts, engines, propellers, landing gear, and machined parts. 3 Points Aviation Corporation is an established aerospace company and an approved, certified distributor for regional aircraft parts.
- APEX Industries Inc.: Headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick, APEX serves and supplies customers from around the world with everything from aerospace parts, to contract manufacturing, to the manufacturing and distribution of doors, frames and related hardware.
- Bluedrop Performance Learning: With over 17 years in operation, Bluedrop is recognized as one of the top training development companies in North America. The company is based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador and was named one of the top 50 defence companies in Canada in 2011.
- Compusult: Established in 1985 as a computer consulting firm with a focus on the development of scientific applications to support environmental data acquisition and management, the Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador-based company is now recognized as a global leader in geospatial Interoperability. Compusult’s flagship product, Web Enterprise Suite (WES), is an integrated suite of software applications, based on open standards, for efficient, cost-effective creation of Web-based geospatial portals for centralized data discovery, collaboration, sharing, management and interoperability. In addition, the company provides computer consulting, programming and integration services to government, business, technical and scientific sectors.
- Deep Vision: Located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the company is a leader in the field of intelligent machine perception. It specialises in developing real-time, intelligent machine perception technology that a computer system can understand. Deep Vision's unique and proprietary technology enables systems or devices to detect, recognise, and interpret objects and events, in their environment.
- MedMira: A leading developer and manufacturer of flow-through rapid diagnostics and technologies, the company’s tests provide hospitals, labs, clinics and individuals with reliable, rapid diagnosis for infectious diseases in minutes. MedMira’s rapid HIV test is the only one in the world to achieve regulatory approvals in Canada, the United States, China and the European Union. MedMira’s corporate offices and manufacturing facilities are located in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
- Mil-Aero Electronics Inc.: Located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Mil Aero specializes in the manufacturing and integration of high performance electrical assemblies.
- Rutter Inc.: Formed in 1998, Rutter is an enterprise focused on providing innovative technologies and engineering solutions. Represented in over 100 locations in 70 countries, Rutter supplies technologies to improve efficiency and safety in the marine, defence, transportation, oil and gas sectors. The
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador-based company is recognized as the world leader in Voyage Data Recorders (VDR) technology.
- Terra Nova Shoes: Based in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, the company manufactures and exports regular and light weight safety work boots, casual boots, shoes and joggers, felt lined logins (felt paks) and military combat boots.
- Virtual Marine Technology (VMT): Founded in 2004 and located in St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador, VMT is a global provider of small craft training simulators. The company’s simulators combine high fidelity sensory cues with tailored curriculum to enhance small craft training programs.
Aerospace and Defence Industry Associations:
- Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Nova Scotia (ADIANS): Incorporated in 1995 to assist in the pursuit of aerospace and defence industry growth and development opportunities, ADIANS acts as a facilitator linking companies to each other, to government, agencies and the larger aerospace companies seeking suppliers, partners and collaborators.
- Aerospace and Defence Industry Association of Newfoundland and Labrador: The association facilitates the development of business opportunities in the aerospace and defence sector and acts as a common forum for all Newfoundland and Labrador aerospace and defence related companies, agencies and other interested stakeholders.
- Aerospace Prince Edward Island: The non-profit entity represents the interests of the aerospace sector in Prince Edward Island. Working with its member companies and stakeholders, it strives to foster business development and promotional opportunities for the betterment of the aerospace cluster in the province.
