Close to 20 companies and organizations from across Atlantic Canada will travel to Valparaiso, Chile from December 1-5, 2008 to take part in a major naval and maritime defence conference and exhibition. Led by the Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, the Honourable Peter MacKay, delegates will participate in Exponaval 2008, the Maritime and Naval Exhibition and Conference for Latin America.

“The aerospace and defence industry is one of Atlantic Canada’s fastest growing industries and a major driver for export growth,” said Minister MacKay. “The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is committed to helping Atlantic Canadian aerospace and defence industry firms establish valuable international contacts and successfully compete on the international stage.”

Exponaval is the meeting point for naval and maritime defence forces from Latin America and the international maritime defence and security industry. It is the largest fair of its kind in Latin America. Organizers expect that agreements for future business worth approximately US$ 500 million could be negotiated at the Exponaval trade show. More than 115 exhibiting companies will participate.

This is the first ACOA-led trade mission of Atlantic Canadian delegates to the biennial Exponaval Exhibition. ACOA’s participation in this trade mission supports the Government of Canada’s renewed engagement with the Americas.

Trade mission delegates will participate in the exhibition and benefit from pre-arranged one-on-one business meetings, business networking events, market familiarization briefings, round-table discussions with key industry leaders, and site tours.

Atlantic Canada’s growing and diversified aerospace and defence industry which employs over 10,000 skilled and experienced workers consists of a wide range of suppliers providing globally-competitive solutions and support – to both the military and commercial markets – domestically and internationally. The industry has experienced a 183% growth in export revenues since 2001 and generates annual revenues of C$1 billion.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

A delegation of close to 20 Atlantic Canadian companies and organizations led by the Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, the Honourable Peter MacKay, is getting ready to head to Valparaiso, Chile from December 1-5, at the Atlantic Mission to Exponaval 2008, the Maritime and Naval Exhibition and Conference for Latin America.

Minister MacKay said this trade mission will help Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs enhance their export sales and expand their markets.

Held every two years, Exponaval is the meeting point for naval and maritime defence forces from Latin America and the international maritime defence and security industry.

-30-

INFORMATION:

Robert Bourgeois
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-851-6394


MEDIA BACKGROUNDER

Following is a list of the Atlantic Canadian companies and 
organizations participating in the ACOA-led trade mission 
to the Exponaval 2008 Maritime and Naval Exhibition and 
Conference for Latin America:

Atlantic Canadian companies (by province):

New Brunswick
CARIS (Fredericton)
Lexi-Tech International (Moncton)
Industrial Rubber Company (IRC) (Bathurst)

Newfoundland and Labrador
Virtual Marine Technology (VMT) (St. John’s)
International Communications and Navigation (ICAN) (Mount 
Pearl)
Marine Industrial Lighting Systems Ltd. (MILS) (Mount Pearl)
Rutter Technologies Inc. (St. John’s)
Marport Canada (St. John’s)

Nova Scotia
Ultra Electronics Marine Systems (Dartmouth)
CarteNav Solutions (Halifax)
ODIM Brooke Ocean (Dartmouth)
Jasco Research (Halifax)
GeoSpectrum Technologies (Dartmouth)
Fleetway (Halifax)
xwave (Halifax)

Aerospace and Defence Industry Associations:

Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Nova Scotia
Aerospace and Defence Industry Association of Newfoundland 
and Labrador
New Brunswick Aerospace and Defence Association
Prince Edward Island Aerospace Human Resource Sector 
Council Inc. / Aerospace Prince Edward Island