News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Three New Brunswick businesses are making a return trip to China this week and two other companies are visiting South Korea to develop business opportunities.

This trip follows a trade mission in October 2016 by the provincial government and several companies during which New Brunswick businesses developed potential export opportunities in China, the province’s third-largest export market.

Opportunities NB and the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries are joining deputy premier Stephen Horsman’s economic and advocacy mission to China this week.

“This is a great opportunity for New Brunswick businesses that have already made a connection with the Chinese market to build upon those relationships,” said Economic Development Minister Francine Landry, who is also minister responsible for Opportunities NB. “Many New Brunswick firms do business in China across a variety of sectors including electronics, seafood and agriculture. We are excited to assist more companies in exploring this important market.”

Opportunities NB is leading three businesses, Dantra Specialty Products, Prelam Enterprises and Groupe Westco, through a series of meetings with Chinese government departments and private sector firms, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and the Canadian China Business Council. Two other New Brunswick firms, C-Therm Technologies and Maison Beausoleil, will also be in China this week and will be attending some of the meetings.

“We are really hoping to penetrate the Chinese market,” said Luc Jalbert, vice-president of sales and marketing with Prelam Enterprises of Moncton. “The matchmaking that Opportunities NB is doing puts us in front of potential clients that we would likely not be able to connect with on our own. It is a great chance to present our products to Chinese consumers.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries is supporting several New Brunswick companies to help them participate in the Seoul Food and Hotel Expo in South Korea, including Shediac-based Gourmet Chef Packers and Dieppe-headquartered Cavendish Farms.

The New Brunswick agri-food industry is responding to the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement, the country’s first free trade agreement in the Asia-Pacific region, which became official on Jan. 1, 2015. This agreement provides Canadian exporters with preferential access to the world’s 11th largest economy, and the fourth largest in Asia, with an annual GDP of nearly $1.8 trillion and a population of more than 50 million.

“Growing our markets in the seafood and agri-foods sector is part of our plan to grow the economy and support jobs,” said Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries Minister Rick Doucet. “We know the market in Asia offers increased potential for our agricultural and seafood industries. That is why we are pleased to have New Brunswick companies participating and introducing new markets to the quality products that hard-working New Brunswickers are delivering to dinner tables the world over.”

In October 2016, Premier Brian Gallant and more than 15 businesses and two universities participated in a nine-day, multi-sector delegation to China. This trade mission, New Brunswick’s largest-ever, explored opportunities for trade and investment.

Opportunities NB is a Crown corporation that seeks to attract and support opportunities to grow the economy and create jobs. It provides support services for businesses across the province.