The Eastern Newfoundland Home Builders' Association (ENHBA) will host a delegation from Iceland's housing industry from September 15-18, 2002. The purpose of the mission is to promote Canadian housing technology and what Newfoundland and Labrador builders and suppliers have to offer, both to Iceland and to other countries in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Union (EU).

Canadian wood frame construction technology offers several benefits to other countries. Canadian built homes are less expensive and can be built in half the time when compared with homes built through traditional means in other countries. In addition, Canadian housing technology offers energy efficiency, durability, flexibility, comfort, safety and a healthy indoor environment.

Jane Morgan, president of the ENHBA, said that one of the benefits of membership in their association is that members will have the opportunity to participate in this incoming trade mission. "We have members who are running good businesses and providing good products and services right here in this province," said Morgan. "They are now ready to explore the potential that exporting has to offer. We are delighted to be able to make this opportunity available to them - to explore the potential of Iceland and beyond."

The initiative received $63,000 in funding support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), through its Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, a $54-million comprehensive strategy to strengthen the export performance of the Atlantic region and to increase foreign direct investment.

"Local companies in the construction and building products industry have proven expertise in Canadian housing technology," noted the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for ACOA. "ACOA is pleased to be supporting this export initiative, which will help develop international partnerships with Iceland and other countries in the European Free Trade Association."

"The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, through the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, led an initial exploratory trade mission to Iceland in October 2001, and through this event, identified an opportunity in the housing technology sector. This led directly to the three-day incoming mission that will take place here in September," said Kelvin Parsons, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development.

In addition to meetings with local home construction companies and suppliers and with provincial government officials, the itinerary for the incoming delegation also includes information seminars on Canadian housing technology, codes and standards and certification of building materials, as well as visits to several housing construction sites.

A backgrounder and list of participating Newfoundland and Labrador and Icelandic organizations is attached.

Incoming Icelandic Mission, September 15-18, 2002

Participating Delegates from Iceland:

Mr. Hallgrimur Jonsson Director, Technological Institute of Iceland

Mr. Oskar Jonsson Director, Sg-HUS

Mr. Brynjar Ragnarsson Marketing Manager Federation of Icelandic Industries

Mr. Ari Skulason Director Aflvaka Ltd.

Mr. Stefan Fridfinnsson President & CEO IAV

Ms. Valdis Bjarnadottir Chairman The Iceland Association of Architects

Mr. Hakon Olafsson Chairman The Association of Construction Engineers Iceland

Mr. Baldur Gislason Rector of Vocation School Idnskolinn Ms. Gudrun Danielsdottir Reykjabraut

Ms. Kristborg Agustsdottir Vice Consul for Canada Canadian Embassy

Incoming Icelandic Mission, September 15-18, 2002

Participating Newfoundland and Labrador Companies:

NF Styro Inc.

Nu-Way Kitchens Ltd.

WeatherShore Windows Inc.

Terra Nova Trusses

Karwood Contracting

Ledrew Lumber Co. Ltd.

Capital Ready Mix

New Wood Manufactures

Lafarge North America

Enviro-Shred Inc.

J. T. Martins & Sons Ltd.

K&P Contracting Ltd.

Garnet Kindervater Ltd.

Superior Waterproof Coatings

Colette Nap Architect

Design Services

Continental Marble

Jamestown Lumber

Weyerhaeuser

Interex Systems

Rhonda Day, Executive Officer
Eastern Newfoundland Home Builders' Association
(709) 753-2000

Olivia Letemplier
Office of the Hon. Gerry Byrne
Minister of State for ACOA
(613) 954-2487

Doug Burgess
ACOA
(709) 772-2935

Josephine Cheeseman
Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development
(709) 729-4570

Delegates from Iceland have been invited to Newfoundland and Labrador, September 15-18, 2002, to meet with representatives from the housing industry, government departments and agencies and regulatory bodies. Through the business itinerary developed for this mission, the Newfoundland housing industry anticipates forging mutually beneficial partnerships with Iceland with a view to pursuing business opportunities in that market and others in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and, ultimately, countries in the European Union (EU).

EFTA comprises several countries: Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Sweden, and allows the free movement of goods and services between them. There are also agreements in place that extend EFTA into the EU as a whole, providing easy access to markets in the European Union.

Representatives from Newfoundland and Labrador have had discussions and meetings over the past several months with the Federation of Icelandic Industries and other key agencies and associations in Iceland. All have demonstrated a keen interest in timber frame construction products and services from this province, with the possibility of supplying Canadian timber frame construction technology to Iceland and, from there, to other EFTA and EU countries.

Some of the recognized benefits of Canadian timber frame construction are:

° Homes are less expensive to build and can be built in less time.

° Timber frame construction offers ease of renovation and more flexibility.

° Canadian timber frame construction is attractive given the variety of products that can be used and more choice is offered in exterior and interior finishes.

° Canadian housing technology offers energy efficiency, durability, comfort, safety and an environment that is healthy for occupants. There are strong historical and cultural ties between Iceland and Newfoundland and Labrador. Considerable co-operation exists between the two, and over the past five to ten years there has been increasing interaction between this province and Iceland in many areas, including fisheries, economic development, information technology, etc., culminating in increased trade with Iceland and investment in Newfoundland. The more recent discussions with Iceland relative to opportunities in the housing industry have been a natural evolution between Iceland and Newfoundland and Labrador because of the positive and ongoing relationship that exists between the two. The objectives of the mission are to give the Icelanders firsthand exposure to Canadian housing technology, to show what Newfoundland and Labrador companies have to offer, and to further strengthen networks with the Icelandic building community. To this end, the schedule of events for the mission will include:

° An overview of Canadian housing technology, codes and standards, and certification of building materials.

° Information on doing business in Newfoundland.

° Meetings with relevant regulatory bodies, industry associations and government departments and officials.

° Visits to several housing construction sites in the St. John's area; and

° An opportunity for about 15 Newfoundland companies, interested in the Iceland/EFTA markets, to meet with the delegation from Iceland to discuss their products and services.

The Incoming mission from Iceland will be hosted by the Eastern Newfoundland Home Builders' Association.