The following is excerpted from the 27 September 2010 news release by DFAIT.
The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Minister of International Trade, today congratulated Prince Edward Island’s entrepreneurs for looking beyond Canada’s borders. The Minister was addressing the annual Diplomatic Forum being held in Charlottetown.
“Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have always been great traders,” said Minister Van Loan. “The traditional export products of seafood and agriculture have been supplemented by pharmaceutical and aerospace products, which have maintained the East Coast provinces’ reputation as world traders.”
Between 2004 and 2009, 32 percent of Atlantic Canada’s gross domestic product came from international trade, two percentage points higher than the national average.
The Harper government contributes to P.E.I.’s participation in the global economy. With a regional office in Charlottetown, the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) partners with the provincial government and key federal partners, such as the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), to encourage local businesses to go global…
The TCS, Innovation PEI and ACOA have an ambitious foreign trade agenda this year with Trade Team Prince Edward Island. Trade missions are planned to New England, New York City and area, Philadelphia, Florida, Japan, and the Caribbean region, as well as to various U.S. and international trade shows.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada also offers funding programs that are helping P.E.I. businesses find new partners around the world.
Going Global Innovation is supporting Neurodyn Inc., a company focusing on neurological diseases. An $18,781 contribution helped the company sign a memorandum of understanding with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology to research epilepsy.
Invest Canada-Community Initiatives is supporting the community of Summerside with a $24,200 contribution to help it further develop and attract foreign investment that creates jobs in P.E.I.
And just this week, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada was a partner with Innovation PEI, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the P.E.I. BioAlliance, and the Centre for Health and Biotech Management Research (University of Prince Edward Island) in hosting high-profile and internationally renowned venture capitalists during National Biotechnology Week.
