Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield led a delegation to Savannah, Georgia, for the Southeastern United States-Canadian Provinces Alliance Conference, reinforcing our common economic ties and working to expand commercial opportunities.

SEUS-CP features networking, business-to-business meetings and panel discussions on topics including supply chain resiliency, sustainable agriculture, and electric vehicle adoption.

Canada is Alabama’s second largest export market, with shipments valued at $3.5 billion in 2021, a figure that jumped 18% from the prior year. Alabama is also a top U.S. destination for goods from Canada, with imports topping $3 billion last year. top international trade partners. The country ranks as a top 5 foreign investor in the state, with more than 80 Canadian companies located in Alabama.

Secretary Canfield said the conference represents a platform that allows representatives from the six Southeastern states and six Canadian provinces to build bonds that can lead to new commercial and cultural possibilities.

“Over many decades, we have built a partnership that relies on respect, discovers meaningful pathways to collaborate, fosters innovative solutions and advances common goals,” said Canfield. “This is a special relationship, and its benefits are self-evident – working closely together, we have driven economic growth, sparked job creation and generated new opportunities.”

Christina Stimpson, director of the Office of International Trade at Commerce, said Alabama is fortunate to be a part of an association that facilitates relationship-building between the state and Canada.

“Canada is a critically important market for Alabama, and this conference features business matchmaking to encourage trade and business development,” Stimpson said.

“For Alabama exporters and export-capable companies, this is a great conference for market research and making Canadian contacts.”

The SEUS-CP Alliance was established in 2007 to enhance trade and investment, promote business partnerships, and encourage technological exchanges between the member states and Canadian provinces. The annual conference alternates between the U.S. and Canada and is held in members states and provinces. Member states from the Southeast are Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Canadian members are New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Québec.

Several Alabama companies were represented at the conference this year in Georgia, including Page & Jones Inc., a shipping logistics firm based in Mobile; SWJ Technology LLC, a Tuscaloosa engineering firm; Excelsior Staffing, a Tuscaloosa staffing firm; and Automation + Controls Engineering, a Mobile firm specializing in engineering services.

Please see linked article from Business Alabama: Alabama reinforces economic ties at US-Canadian Provinces conference from (businessalabama.com).

Posted in International Trade Articles