News Release

FREDERICTON (CNB) - A business delegation from New Brunswick will be travelling to the southern United States, June 15 - 17.

The delegation will be led by Premier Shawn Graham and Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne, and will be attending the first annual conference of the Southeastern United States - Canada Alliance (SEUS-Canada).

The Premier and Byrne will join representatives of four New Brunswick companies and one business group on the trade mission, which will explore new partnerships and business ties on the U.S. eastern seaboard.

The companies include Lexitech, Atlantica Centre for Energy, Remsoft, and Red Hot Learning; the business organization is the New Brunswick Business Council.

The SEUS-Canada conference will be held in Savannah, Ga., and will be attended by participants from numerous business sectors, chambers of commerce, and government. The conference will focus on industry sectors of special interest to SEUS-Canada, including aerospace, manufacturing, energy, transportation and logistics, and tourism.

"In our pursuit of a self-sufficient province, it is imperative that both our public and private sectors work to seek out new alliances and areas of co-operation with our U.S. neighbours," Graham said. "The southeastern region has potential as a growing market for New Brunswick. We must make the most of these opportunities to build key relationships, expand business ties, and spread the word that there are great things happening in New Brunswick."

SEUS-Canada was established in November 2007 to promote continued trade and investment between member provinces from Canada (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Québec) and member states of the southeastern United States (Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee).

"There are many investment opportunities in these markets, both for our companies looking to export, and for U.S. companies looking to outsource and expand," said Byrne. "There is no better time for potential partners and investors to become part of New Brunswick's growing business community."

Following the conference, Graham and Byrne will go to Washington where they will meet with key business leadaers and members of the Maine Congressional delegation, including Senator Susan Collins and Congressman Michael Michaud. Graham will also be guest speaker at a business luncheon hosted by the Canadian Embassy, the Canadian-American Business Council, and Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.

The United States is New Brunswick's largest trading partner. In 2007, 88 per cent ($9.84 billion) of New Brunswick exports were shipped to the United States. Sustaining and improving Canada-U.S. trade and economic relations remains a high priority as New Brunswick strives to maintain market share in existing regions and develop new markets.