Premier Leads Mission to New England

Premier Russell MacLellan is leading a delegation of 10 Nova Scotia businesses on the Atlantic premiers' trade mission to New England this weekend.

The four-day mission begins in Boston on Sunday, April 11, and travels to Burlington, Vt., Manchester, N.H., and Portland, Me. Appointments have been arranged in each location with American firms that are potential customers and business partners for the companies travelling on the mission. More than 90 meetings are scheduled for the Nova Scotian firms.

"New England is our priority market for exports," said Premier MacLellan. "Combining forces with our Atlantic neighbours will bring new opportunities for these 10 Nova Scotia companies, and for companies on subsequent Nova Scotia trade missions."

This is the first time the four Atlantic provinces have teamed up on a trade mission. Team Atlantic comprises the four Atlantic Canadian premiers and 10 companies from each province.

The purpose of the trade mission is to establish new business partnerships, increase trade and build strategic alliances between businesses in Atlantic Canada and companies in the New England region.

The Nova Scotia companies participating are: ACA Co-operative, Kentville; Blue Mist Pewter, Springhill; Fundy Fiberglass, Digby; NU-AIR Ventilation Systems, Newport; Ocean Case, Enfield; Rainbow Farms, Upper Rawdon; Sparkling Spring Water, Dartmouth; Springvale Nurseries, Berwick; Stright-MacKay, Pictou; and W.R. Benjamin Products, Springhill.

On Monday, April 12, Premier MacLellan is the guest speaker at the New England Council, a group of influential business leaders from the Boston area. He will discuss investment opportunities related to the Sable Offshore Energy Project. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology will host a roundtable discussion involving the premier and MIT's Industry Collegium on enhancing Nova Scotia's relationship with the institute for further research, development, innovation and collaboration.

On Tuesday, April 13, Premier MacLellan will travel with the companies to Vermont, where he will be the featured speaker at a lunch with members of Vermont's business community.

Team Atlantic is an initiative of the Conference of Atlantic Premiers and is being funded by the Canada/Atlantic Provinces COOPERATION Agreement on International Business Development, a trade agreement between the federal government -- represented by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Industry Canada -- and the four provincial governments.

Information on the Team Atlantic trade mission is available on the Internet at www.gov.pe.ca/development/trademission/ .