News Release Archive
PREMIER--TEAM CANADA MISSION A SUCCESS ------------------------------------------------------------ The Team Canada trade mission to southeast Asia has opened the door to future trade and investment possibilities in Nova Scotia, Premier John Savage said today. The premier has just returned to the province from a trade mission sponsored by Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Premier Savage and six other premiers, along with a large delegation of business representatives, promoted trade opportunities during stops in India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Malaysia. "For a small province like Nova Scotia, this was really an eye-opening experience. Up until now we have done very little to promote trade with southeast Asia. This trade mission has established many, many contacts that can be followed up by the private sector." Premier Savage said it is too soon to measure exactly what the mission means to Nova Scotia in dollars and cents. "It may take years before the full impact of the trade mission can be fully realized. However, there is little doubt that trade and investment possibilities have been greatly accelerated as a result of the trip." Premier Savage noted that a number of contracts or agreements involving Nova Scotia companies were signed during the trade mission. Other signings are in the works. A Nova Scotia company, Melville Holdings, signed a $6 million deal to build a dairy in India. Survival Systems, of Dartmouth, signed contracts or memorandums of understanding in Indonesia and Malaysia. Sydney Steel has an agreement to sell rails to Indonesia, and is working on a tender for even a larger order. Three universities, Saint Mary's, Technical University of Nova Scotia, and Dalhousie, took part in the trade mission in a bid to attract international students to Nova Scotia. Premier Savage said future economic growth in Nova Scotia will depend on the province's ability to attract investment and open up trade links with the rest of the world. "We cannot wait for the world to come knocking on our door. In order to be successful we must aggressively pursue new markets. The responsibility of government is to make the initial contacts and open the door for follow-up by the private sector." The premier said he intends to actively pursue additional trading possibilities for Nova Scotians at every opportunity. "The bottom line is jobs for Nova Scotians. By tapping into global markets we will be able to create new job opportunities in every sector of our economy, from our traditional resource industries to manufacturing." Premier Savage said in terms of the possible long-term benefits of the Southeast Asia mission, the trip was "an unqualified success." Time will tell what all that means in terms of dollars and cents, the premier said. -30- EDITORS NOTE: There is an accent aigu on the first "e" in Chretien. Contact: David Harrigan 902-424-6600 trp Jan. 22, 1996 - 10:12 a.m.