Swedish Delegation to Explore Environmental Expertise
ENVIRONMENT-Swedish Delegation to Explore Environmental Expertise
A Swedish business delegation will arrive in Halifax on Sunday, March 21, to explore potential business relationships with Nova Scotia firms involved in environmental technology. The trade mission is the first of many bringing together Canadian and Swedish companies that have expressed interest in possible partnerships.
"In Nova Scotia we are producing new technologies and creating jobs," said Senator Al Graham, speaking on behalf of Fred Mifflin, Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "We also have a strong partnership in place with our counterparts in Sweden and significant expertise here at home to ensure a growing environmental industry in this province."
"This is an exciting event for Nova Scotia, and we're confident the business exchange will lead to solid business opportunities for our environmental technology companies," said Environment Minister Michel Samson. "Efforts like this are helping Nova Scotia do business around the world and our initiatives are working, bringing environmental benefits, jobs and opportunities."
Four Swedish companies are participating in the three-day business exchange, along with representatives from the Swedish Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Swedepark, a co-operative organization for the 26 Swedish science and technology parks. Swedepark supports ventures within knowledge-based and high-tech businesses throughout Sweden.
Through this partnership with Swedepark, ACOA has invited this delegation to Nova Scotia and is working with the departments of the Environment and Economic Development and Tourism, which are organizing the company partnering meetings.
"Swedepark was invited by the Canadian Embassy to help Swedish science and technology park companies develop business links with high-tech Canadian companies, and to stimulate growth through the creation of international partnerships," said Gertrud Bohlin-Ottosson, managing director for IDEON Research Park in Lund and a member of the Swedepark board of directors. "This group is the first Swedepark delegation to arrive in Nova Scotia and we look forward to a productive visit."
Participants are looking to make business contacts, form partnerships with Nova Scotia companies, as well as network with government representatives. Many of the Nova Scotia participants in the Swedish business exchange will continue to network with potential Swedish partners as they travel to Montreal for Americana '99, an international environmental technologies trade show.
ACOA has been working with Swedepark for several years with active support from Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Together they have solicited the interest of close to 100 businesses to examine partnering opportunities for the benefit of trade, investment or technology development.
The Environment Department's Environmental Industries and Technologies division works with Nova Scotia companies to help them develop, manufacture and export environmental products and services. Its goal is to build a strong base of world-class companies that offer environmentally sound practices and products for use in Nova Scotia and throughout the world.