Four Alberta companies — three from Calgary and one from Edmonton — have been named finalists for the 2001 Canada Export Awards.
International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew this week announced the names of Alberta’s award finalists, who will be among 10 winners honoured at a ceremony in Montreal in late September.
One of the winners will also receive the prestigious Exporter of the Year Award. The Calgary nominees are Alterna Technologies Group Inc., Global Thermoelectric Inc. and SMART Technologies Inc. Edmonton’s Matrikon Inc. is also up for an award.
“Canadians exported a record $474 billion in 2000, a 15-per-cent increase over 1999,” said Pettigrew.
“The 2001 finalists played an active role in this growth, generating more than $2 billion in export sales. They also sustained more than 12 500 jobs across the country.”
In 2000, the Alberta firms generated close to $182 million in exports and sustained 877 jobs, Pettigrew said. One of the Alberta finalists — Global Thermoelectric Inc. — captured an exporter award in 1998 while SMART Technologies Inc. was Canada’s Exporter of the Year Award in 2000.
Since 1983, more than 200 firms have been recognized for their success in Canada and in foreign markets. “Previous award-winning companies have come from a variety of industries, clearly indicating the diversity of Canada’s economy,” said Pettigrew. “This year’s finalists are certainly continuing this tradition, having distinguished themselves in the knowledge-technology, food, manufacturing and service industries.”
This year, the Canada Export Awards will be presented at the annual convention of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Sept. 23-25 in Montreal.
