Team Canada Atlantic Headed for Atlanta

Building on the success of May's mission to the southeastern United States, 32 Atlantic Canadian companies will be in Atlanta, Georgia, Nov. 13 - 15 to pursue potential markets.

Robert Thibault, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), will lead the Team Canada Atlantic delegation. He will be accompanied by three provincial ministers responsible for trade: Gordon Balser, Nova Scotia Minister of Economic Development; Norman Betts, Minister of Business New Brunswick; and Beaton Tulk, Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development.

"This mission is about opening doors for Nova Scotia businesses in the southeastern U.S.," said Mr. Balser. "Valuable partnerships have been established at the Atlanta missions and we're excited at the prospect of developing more."

If the last trade mission is any indication, the Atlantic Canadian companies on this trip should be successful. Surveys conducted after the May mission show that the 37 Atlantic Canadian companies who participated are expected to make a combined $34.5 million in sales over the next two years as a direct result of new business contacts made in the Atlanta area. It's estimated that will translate into 249 new jobs in the Atlantic region.

"The first trade mission to Atlanta put Atlantic Canada on the map, as far as the southeastern United States markets are concerned," said Mr. Thibault. "Many businesses in that region now know more about our region and what our companies can do. I'm confident we can build on the success of that trip. The partnerships formed during the two trade missions will create a solid foundation to develop trade and investment opportunities for many years to come."

Of the 32 Atlantic Canadian companies heading to Atlanta, 11 are from New Brunswick, nine from Newfoundland and Labrador, eight from Nova Scotia and four from Prince Edward Island. The companies cover a wide range of industries, but focus mostly on technology and value-added products and services.

This trade mission is the fifth in the Team Canada Atlantic initiative. Missions to New England in the past two and a half years have generated almost $7 million in immediate sales for Atlantic Canadian companies, with projected sales of $70 million over a two-year period.

The goal of the Atlanta trade mission is to create new business partnerships, increase trade and investment and build strategic alliances between Atlantic Canadian and southeastern U.S. companies.

The southeastern United States has been the fastest-growing market in the country in the past six years. In 2000, Canada's trade with the region exceeded $57 billion. Trade between Atlantic Canada and the southeastern United States accounted for $2.4 billion.

Atlanta is headquarters for 50 Fortune 500 companies, including Coca-Cola, Federal Express and Home Depot. Atlanta is also the economic hub of the southeast region, with opportunities for trade in virtually every sector.

Team Canada Atlantic's trade mission to Atlanta is organized by ACOA, the four Atlantic provinces, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Industry Canada and Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters.