Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Canada exports soar
Firms in trade mission after 33% increase
EXPORTS to Canada by Northern Ireland companies have the potential to grow sharply after jumping by a third in four years, it has been claimed.
Invest NI, which made the upbeat forecast, is leading a trade mission to Toronto along with eight companies.
The agency also saw Belfast-based Sensoteq sign a contract worth $1.2million with a Canadian distributor to supply its wireless machine health monitoring systems.
The company picked up the business after attending last year’s Waste and Recycling Expo in Niagara Falls, Ontario, with help from Invest NI.
Sensoteq chief Idir Boudaoud said the country has significant export potential. He added: “We have seen huge business opportunities in Canada.
“We have visited the market multiple times to build on the initial contacts made at last year’s Waste and Recycling Expo and we continue to strengthen our business relationships. Our contract with distributor Eurotech is of huge importance to the future growth of the business and we are very optimistic about our growth in this market.”
Alastair Hamilton, chief executive of Invest NI, is on a week-long visit to Canada and the US and met the trade mission in Toronto, as well as his company’s office in the city.
He said: “Canada is a key target market for ambitious Northern Ireland companies.
“The latest HMRC figures show exports to Canada over the last four years have grown 33% and are currently valued at £471million, demonstrating the valuable business opportunities which exist here.
“Companies like Sensoteq demonstrate the great export opportunities Canada offers to our local companies.
“Focus on the Canadian market is paying dividends for Northern Ireland companies and we look forward to more success in this market.”