Ever thought about the Caribbean as more than just a vacation spot? If you lead a company with a product or service to sell, learn about the opportunities that await your company in this market.
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) are currently recruiting companies to participate in a multi-sector trade mission to the Caribbean. The trade mission will be based out of Barbados with potential side trips to neighbouring markets including: Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St Lucia and other OECS countries. The Caribbean market (CARICOM) represents $1.8 billion dollars CDN in two-way trade in products and services with Canada (EDC, 2008). This provides significant opportunities for Nova Scotia product and service exporters in the education/training, engineering, environmental, manufacturing, food processing, information technology, consumer products and other sectors.

As a business owner/operator delegate on the trade mission, you will receive:
• A half-day cultural and business training session prior to the mission;
• One-on-one business meetings tailored to your business goals;
• Ground transportation to and from your business meetings;
• High level networking events to assist you in entry or expansion in the Caribbean market including an invitation to a networking reception in Barbados hosted by the Nova Scotia delegation; and
• Individual post-mission mentoring upon return to Nova Scotia.
Participants are responsible for the cost of roundtrip airfare including air travel between islands, accommodations, and meals.

Space is limited. To register, download the application form, fill out and return by Friday 27 August to Natasha at natasha@edunova.ca. Please note that the mission may be fully subscribed before that date.

SAVE THE DATE. As a component of the mission, a Doing Business in the Caribbean information session will be held for registered delegates on Thursday, October 28, 2010 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at ACOA, 5th floor (1801 Hollis Street, Halifax) The session will be led by EduNova and Mr. Stew Hattie - a trade consultant with extensive experience in export development to the Caribbean. The half-day session will focus on export opportunities in the Caribbean for NS companies, the steps involved in successful exporting to the Caribbean and upcoming trade missions to the market.