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NEWS RELEASE (CNS613) -->> ECONOMIC RENEWAL--OFFSHORE TRADE FAIR ATTRACTS CORE INTEREST ECONOMIC RENEWAL--OFFSHORE TRADE FAIR ATTRACTS CORE INTEREST ----------------------------------------------------------------- Optimism and anticipation over the province's offshore Sable gas project will attract more than 250 business people, including many of the industry's key players, to the Nova Scotia Offshore Trade Fair this week. Fifty-five exhibitors interested in supplying goods or services to the offshore energy industry will be featured at the trade fair, being held at Halifax's World Trade and Convention Centre Oct. 9 and 10. Sponsored by the Departments of Economic Renewal and Natural Resources, the Offshore Trade Fair is organized around the Canadian Offshore Resources Exhibition (CORE) Conference, an international gathering of the offshore oil and gas industry. Once a major event in the mid-80s, the CORE Conference is once again attracting attention from the industry's key players. "The action in Canada's oil and gas industry is shifting from Alberta to the east coast," Economic Renewal Minister Richie Mann said. "There's no question that industry activity and interest is focusing on the Sable Offshore Energy Project and Nova Scotia companies should be ready to take advantage of the attention." The trade fair presents an opportunity for Nova Scotia companies to demonstrate their capabilities to potential contractors for the Sable project. Most procurement decisions relating to the project will be made before next fall. "We expect the trade fair will give Nova Scotia companies the opportunity to initiate or advance discussions on forming alliances among regional firms or with businesses from other areas," said Mr. Mann. Several east coast project groups such as Sable Offshore Energy Project (SOEP), Terra Nova Project, Maritimes and North East Pipeline Project, and Pan Canadian, the operators of the Cohassset Project, Canada's first offshore oil production project, are exhibiting at the fair. While most trade fair exhibitors are from Nova Scotia, some from as far away as Alberta, Scotland, and the United States will be participating. Graham Curren, vice-president of marketing for Dartmouth's Secunda Marine said, "We're hoping to have good exposure to oil companies so we can show the strength and depth of the infrastructure already here in Nova Scotia. Secunda Marine is a local company that's been successfully competing against world players in markets from here to Argentina to the North Sea." Secunda Marine provides marine support and transportation services for offshore industries. Survival Systems Training, also of Dartmouth, provides hands-on safety training for offshore marine operators. Company president, John Swain, said, "With so many industry stakeholders at the trade fair we can't afford not to be there." Mr. Mann added "We want to maximize Nova Scotia content in all offshore activities and that means using Nova Scotia products and people, whenever possible." Premier John Savage will open the Nova Scotia Offshore Trade Fair as the guest speaker at Wednesday's luncheon; Natural Resources Minister Eleanor Norrie will outline the Sable project Thursday morning at the CORE conference; and Mobil Oil Corporation exploration and production president Paul Hoenmans will speak at the CORE conference luncheon on Thursday. The SOEP is also holding a workshop to inform potential suppliers of business opportunities and challenges associated with that project. This is a follow-up to an earlier session held in August. -30- Contact: Linda Laffin 902-424-6810 trp Oct. 08, 1996 - 2:25 p.m.