Building on a 400 year tradition of exchange between Newfoundland and Labrador and New England, the Department’s New England Trade and Investment Initiative is an innovative program that assists local companies enhance international trading ties with New England. The Department coordinates a wide variety of strategic initiatives, including multi-sector and sector specific business-to-business trade missions.

Since 1999, the province has assisted more than 100 Newfoundland and Labrador companies identify and take advantage of opportunities in New England. Most recently, Premier Danny Williams and other representatives from Newfoundland and Labrador signed three memoranda of understanding with counterparts in New England to formalize government, business and academic relationships in New England.
  News release
    Province formalizes government, business and academic
      relationships in New England

Our Approach
Companies control their success in any market, whether foreign or domestic. The New England Trade and Investment Initiative offers added value to a company’s export strategy by:
   Focusing companies export development in one region;
   Identifying and introducing prospects to an ever-growing network of interested stakeholders in New England, including expatriate Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in New England, Memorial University Alumni in New England, the Canadian Consulate General in New England, independent, sector-specific consultants, business councils and industry associations, and state economic development professionals;
   Preparing business-to-business itineraries for market introduction trade missions, and introducing companies to business partners required for long-term success in the New England marketplace; and
  Working with companies on follow-up activities and providing assistance necessary to achieve export success in New England.

New England Market Overview
Newfoundland and Labrador companies consistently identify New England as their first region of choice for market entry into the United States. In fact, more than 50 per cent of our exports to the U.S. find destinations in New England, making the northeast U.S. the largest regional export market for Newfoundland and Labrador.

New England is a large, affluent market in close proximity to Newfoundland and Labrador. It is a dynamic and growing economic region within the U.S. and New England companies are aggressively seeking export, relocation, joint venture or cost reduction opportunities. New England includes the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The total population of New England in 2003 was 14.2 million (up from 14.1 million in 2002). New England's unemployment rate for 2005 was 4.6%. This is considerably lower than the U.S. national average of 5.4%.

New England has long been recognized as America’s higher education heartland, with 260 colleges and universities and more than 860,000 students. It is home to some of the oldest and most renowned institutions of higher learning in the United States.  According to U.S. News and World Report, eight of the top 50 universities and 13 of the top 50 liberal arts colleges in the U.S. are located in New England.

For more information, please contact:
  Trade and Investment Division
  Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
  2nd Floor, West Block, Confederation Building
  P.O. Box 8700,  St. John’s, NL  A1B 4J6
  Tel: (709)729-2781   Toll-free: 1-800-563-2299
   Fax: (709)729-3208   E-mail: NewEngland@gov.nl.ca

Or contact the departmental office nearest you. 

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