News Release

For immediate releases
March 12, 1999

Charlottetown (PEI) -- The Conference of Atlantic Premiers announced today that it will lead a trade mission to four of the New England states in early April.

Team Atlantic will comprise Premier Pat Binns of Prince Edward Island, Premier Russell MacLellan of Nova Scotia, Premier Camille Thériault of New Brunswick, Premier Brian Tobin of Newfoundland and Labrador, and forty companies from across Atlantic Canada, 10 from each province. The purpose of the trade mission is to establish new business partnerships, increase trade and investment, and build strategic alliances between businesses in Atlantic Canada and companies located in the New England region.

The trade mission 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 pan-Atlantic trade agreement between the federal government C represented by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and Industry Canada C and the four provincial governments.

"It's a great time for Canadians to be exporting to the United States," said the Honourable Fred J. Mifflin, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State responsible for ACOA. AThere are many opportunities for Atlantic businesses in the United States, and I see superb potential to build on what is already a successful relationship between Atlantic Canada and New England."

"The Atlantic Premiers are joining forces to support our entrepreneurs" efforts to open new markets in New England," said Premier Binns. AWe believe that this trade mission is timely and will tap into the robust economic growth occurring in the nearby New England region."

The four-day mission will begin in Boston, Massachusetts on April 12 and then travel to Burlington, Vermont; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Portland, Maine. In each location there will be appointments arranged with American firms that are potential customers for the companies travelling on the mission.

"New England is a priority market for Nova Scotia. More than 35 percent of our total exports are destined to that region alone," said Premier MacLellan. "Combining forces with our Atlantic neighbours will bring new opportunities for Nova Scotia companies."

The initiative was created specifically for companies that have the potential to develop an export trade component or are relative newcomers to the export aspect of business.

"In the new global economy, it is essential for our companies to maintain strong ties with our neighbours and to seek new export markets in order to remain competitive," said Premier Thériault. "This trade mission will allow our entrepreneurs to establish new relationships and develop business opportunities."

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Brian Tobin noted the Team Atlantic trade mission is very timely for his province.

"In 1998, Newfoundland and Labrador led all of Canada in Gross Domestic Product Growth, and leading economic forecasters predict we will duplicate that achievement in 1999," said Premier Tobin. A Whether it"s our offshore petroleum sector, our manufacturing sector, or our rapidly growing information technology sector, the range of potential business opportunities within Newfoundland and Labrador is expanding at a dramatic pace."

Final details for the trade mission itinerary, including a list of companies participating from each province, will be released as they become available.

For Further Information Contact:

Al Holman
Public Sector Development
Department of Development
Province of Prince Edward Island
902 368-6300

Patrick Lacroix
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
Province of New Brunswick
506 453-7195

Linda Laffin
Communications Officer
Investment and Trade
Department of Economic Development and Tourism
Province of Nova Scotia
902 424-6810

Pauline Pitre-Savoie
Communications
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506 851-2133

Doug Burgess
Communications
Department of Industry, Trade and Technology
Province of Newfoundland
709 729-6573