Icelandic Minister Leads Trade Mission to N.S.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT--Icelandic Minister Leads Trade Mission to N.S.

The Nova Scotia government continues efforts to strengthen business links with Iceland. The province is hosting a trade mission this week that will see Iceland's minister of Industry and Commerce make her first official visit to Nova Scotia.

The minister, Valgerdur Sverrisdottir, joins representatives of 28 Icelandic companies which are currently doing business with Nova Scotian firms or are interested in pursuing opportunities. The delegation also includes representatives of Newfoundland businesses that are subsidiaries of Icelandic companies.

The visit on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 27-28, will include a seminar on Iceland's economy and one-on-one business meetings between Icelandic and Nova Scotian representatives.

"In recent years, Nova Scotia and Iceland have stepped up efforts to promote trade between our two areas," said Gordon Balser, Minister of Economic Development. "Today, more than 100 Nova Scotia companies conduct business with Iceland."

This week's visit arises from a memorandum of understanding signed by Nova Scotia and Iceland in January 1998. Since the signing, Nova Scotia's exports to Iceland have grown 30 per cent. Iceland imports 80 per cent of the goods consumed by its citizens.

Last month, the president of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, was in Nova Scotia to join in celebrations commemorating more than 1,000 years of history between his country and Canada.