Alabama’s Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield will lead a delegation to the Southeastern United States-Canadian Provinces Alliance Conference in Savannah, Georgia, a high-level event that strengthens mutual economic links, develops commercial prospects, and broadens cultural exchange.
The event, dubbed SEUS-CP, runs from Sunday through Tuesday and includes networking opportunities, business-to-business meetings, and panel talks on supply chain resiliency, sustainable agriculture, and electric car adoption, among other themes.
The conference, according to Secretary Canfield, provides a platform for delegates from the six Southeastern states and six Canadian provinces to develop linkages that could lead to new business and cultural opportunities.
“Over many decades, we have built a partnership that relies on respect, discovers meaningful pathways to collaborate, fosters innovative solutions and advances common goals,” he said.
“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.”
ECONOMIC BONDS
The relationship is fruitful for Alabama. Canada is a major commercial partner and one of the top five foreign investors in the state. Over 80 Canadian enterprises are based in Alabama, with locations all over the state.
According to Alabama Department of Commerce data, Canadian corporations have invested about $1.5 billion in Alabama projects since 2015, producing over 2,300 employment.
Meanwhile, Canada is Alabama’s second-largest export market, with $3.5 billion in sales in 2021, up 18 percent from the previous year. Alabama is also a major importer of commodities from Canada, with $3 billion in imports last year.
Alabama is fortunate to be a part of an association that enables relationship-building between the state and Canada, according to Christina Stimpson, director of Commerce’s Office of International Trade.
“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.”
SEEKING PARTNERSHIPS
Alabama companies represented at the conference include:
- Page & Jones Inc., a shipping logistics firm based in Mobile
- SWJ Technology LLC, a Tuscaloosa firm that provides engineering, planning, and project management services to assist various industries
- Excelsior Staffing, a staffing firm based in Tuscaloosa
- Automation + Controls Engineering (ACE), a Mobile firm offering specialized engineering services to various industries
Jay Paden, business operations manager at ACE, said the conference will allow his company to explore new connections with potential partners in Canada.
“We seek partners, suppliers and contacts who share the company’s values and believe this is a fantastic opportunity to develop relationships domestically and with new Canadian partners,” Paden said.
“ACE is proud to be ‘Made-in-Alabama’ and will continue to provide world-class qualitative service to all of its customers.”
The SEUS-CP Alliance was formed in 2007 to promote trade and investment, commercial partnerships, and technology exchanges between member states and provinces of Canada.
Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee are Southeast member states.
New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec are all Canadian members.