Strengthening Trade Relationships

SAINT JOHN (NB) – Five companies from Brazil are on a trade mission to New Brunswick during the week of December 2-7, 2018.    The trade mission is a partnership project of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Opportunities NB (ONB), Port Saint John, and the Community Business Development Corporation (Charlotte Kings).“This incoming trade mission is part of our North-South business development strategy at Port Saint John,” said Shannon Blanchard, Cargo Development Manager. “During the week we are aiming to connect shippers and receivers from our two countries to increase trade through the Port of Saint John.  We have seen Brazilian interest in our natural resource exports, and an opportunity to increase imports from Brazil to our region, and to points further inland in both Canada and the New England states.”The historical strength in value and variation in products being moved bi-laterally, the geographic proximity by water and excellent transit times from the Port of Saint John to the Brazilian market, combined with the Port’s competitive inland connections to major markets in North America, make this region an attractive option on the busy Eastern seaboard.“Advancing market access opportunities in Canada is an important priority of the Government of Canada.  This incoming mission from Brazil will highlight new trade opportunities for New Brunswick companies and help enhance container service connections that will provide more competitive options for this market,” said Wayne Long, Member of Parliament for Saint John – Rothesay, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA.While trade mission delegates are here, they will receive presentations from logistics and transportation providers and from companies interested in establishing trade, make site visits to producers in our region, and take part in business-to-business meetings.“The Port of Saint John is New Brunswick’s gateway to the world, and the hub through which a significant percentage of our province’s international exports flow,” said Stephen Lund, CEO of Opportunities NB (ONB).  At ONB, we work every day with great New Brunswick companies to grow exports to fast-emerging markets, like Brazil. We are excited to welcome this trade mission to Saint John and for the chance to talk about how we can get more New Brunswick products to Brazil’s thriving international market.”The Government of Canada through ACOA’s Business Development Program is contributing $382,125 (non-repayable) toward the overall North-South development strategy, while Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB) is contributing $25,000.  This project with the CBDC (Charlotte-Kings) aims to identify new trade opportunities for New Brunswick companies, like this incoming Brazil Mission, in target markets such as the Caribbean, Central and South America.

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Media Contacts:Paula Copeland, Director, Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility, Port Saint John, pcopeland@109.199.110.97,(506) 650-5288Ann Kenney, Senior Communications Officer, ACOA NB, ann.kenney@canada.ca, (506) 452-3687Jeff Hull, Communications Specialist, ONB, jeff.hull@onbcanada.ca, (506) 453-8694