Residents of Newfoundland Canada visited Iceland last week to showcase local products for the holiday season. Representatives from 31 companies made the journey across the Atlantic on a three day trade mission organised by the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development.
Among the delegates were several local chefs who brought unique Newfoundland cuisine with them. Shawn Silver of iDance introduced Irish dancing to Icelanders while Deborah Youden, Export Coordinator at the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs, was one of many who represented business interests at the show.
Ed Hutchings, of Alpacas of Newfoundland, said that he most looked forward to increasing his international trade. “There’s been meetings set up for me with some business people up there,” he said before leaving. “I’m meeting with five business people who have stores and things like that, different types of businesses who may be interested in retailing our alpaca products.”
This year’s trade show is the result of a successful trade mission in 2002. According to Trevor Taylor, the Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, momentum for the show has been building ever since.
We have led a number of trade missions to Iceland in recent years to help Newfoundland and Labrador businesses explore the possibility of exporting to Iceland and the results have been very positive,” said Mr Taylor.
Great to see something written up about that. I was on the trade mission with one of the businesses helping out. It was the first of what will be many trips for me.
Good news for Newfoundland, they have been struggling for a long time. Interesting parallels too, they lost independence not long after Iceland gained theirs. Cod was king until the industry crashed but Iceland is still hanging in there (but the stock is now in doubt long term). Good luck and I wish I was there..