First-Ever Trade Mission from a U.S. State

Angus King, Governor of Maine, is heading up the first-ever trade mission from a U.S. state to Nova Scotia.

Over the next three days, Maine businesses are in Halifax to look for commercial partnerships with Nova Scotia companies.

"The mission builds on a series of North-South trade missions launched out of Nova Scotia," said Premier Russell MacLellan. "We're rebuilding the natural and historic ties that made this part of the world a trading giant in the past. We can recapture that history in a whole new way as Nova Scotia and New England team up to export software, marine technology, and telemedicine to the world."

The American and Nova Scotia companies hope to form strategic alliances so that firms on both sides of the border can benefit. "Companies do not come here with the intention of taking sales or business from local businesses. That is clearly understood," said John Fanning, mission contact for Nova Scotia. "Rather, they partner. For example, an education company in the United States might partner with a software company in Nova Scotia and arrange to sell Nova Scotia software through its catalogue. Both sides win."

Wayne Bell of Digital Image FX Inc. said his company has formed alliances with MIT, Dalhousie University, Harvard Medical School, the Pentagon and the Lahey Clinic as a result of recent trade missions led by the provincial government.

"We're working in telemedicine, developing the 'sense of touch' in our Arctic Lab. We cannot afford to re-invent the wheel, so collaborating with New England organizations that have invested millions in similar technology makes sense," said Mr. Bell. "We can take our combined efforts into Canadian and international marketplaces. There is definitely an out-stretched hand from New England."

The Maine companies have a busy schedule while here -- more than 75 meetings have been arranged. There are a number of business sessions where the companies meet local businesses, tour technology centres and are updated on tourism and other trade opportunities.

The Maine mission follows a Nova Scotia mission to Boston and Washington where 36 Nova Scotia high-tech companies were showcased in a trade fair hosted by Premier MacLellan. Ten Nova Scotia companies will visit New England, including Portland, Maine, beginning in April.

Last year's missions, led by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, secured $50 million for Nova Scotia companies from New England contacts.

Note: The following is intended for use by broadcast media.

The state of Maine is breaking new ground in Nova Scotia this

week.

Governor Angus King is leading the first-ever trade mission

to Nova Scotia from an American state.

More than 75 meetings have been scheduled for the Maine

companies over the next three days.

Nova Scotia businesses welcomed the mission as an opportunity

to team up and sell products in the Canadian and international

marketplace.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Another Nova Scotia company, Dymaxion, has made good contacts in New England and is available for interviews. Call Peter Mason at 422-1973, ext. 151. Dymaxion has developed a software package for managing media equipment and libraries and has many large American universities as clients.