Trade Bridge 2001 welcomes the world.

• Position: FedNor Update - Brief Article

From June 13-15, 2001, Northern Ontario business owners, municipal leaders and economic development officials gathered in Sault Ste. Marie to build a bridge of trade with colleagues from across the ocean and below the border. Representatives from Sudbury, Timmins, North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie met with delegates from Ireland and the U.S. in an effort to promote trade connections, strategic alliances and other joint ventures.

Trade Bridge 2001 achieved its goal of being a business-to-business event. Approximately 300 networking meetings were held with 70 local and regional businesses in an effort to give Northern Ontario entrepreneurs access to markers in the U.S., Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom and Europe.

On the evening of June 14, FedNor sponsored the Canadian Bush Pilots' Dinner hosted by the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre. Trade delegates and guests enjoyed a performance by traditional Aboriginal dancers, a Theatre in the Round presentation reliving the stories of how five current residents settled in Sault Ste. Marie, and an opportunity for some members of the Irish delegation to display their singing talents.

Trade Bridge 2001 grew out of a June 2000 trade mission spearheaded by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce and funded by FedNor. As a result of this mission and a subsequent visit in October 2000, strong business relationships were developed between Sault Ste. Marie and County Louth, the Town Of Dundalk, the Louth County Enterprise Board, and the Newry and Moume Enterprise Agency -- all of which were represented at Trade Bridge 2001.

The Trade Bridge 2001 initiative is already paying dividends. On June 28,2001, Fitzpatrick Industries of Sault Ste. Marie announced the finalization of a strategic partnership agreement with Phillipstown Engineering, based in Dunleer in County Louth, Ireland. The joint venture agreement calls for Phillipstown to assemble and distribute Fitzpatrick products, initially in the British Isles and, ultimately, into continental Europe.

RELATED ARTICLE: Trade Bridge 2001 accueille le monde entier.

Du 13 au 15 juin 2001, des chefs d'entre prises, des dirigeants municipaux et des agents de developpement economique du Nord de l'Ontario se sont rencontres a Sault Ste. Marie pour etablir un Pont de commerce avec leurs collegues europeens et americains. Des representants provenant de Sudbury, de...