Charlottetown

Premier Wade MacLauchlan today released the Liberal Party’s plan to create jobs for Islanders through a Trade, Export and Prospecting Strategy.

The Premier announced that a Liberal Government will create jobs by aggressively promoting Prince Edward Island’s advantages to attract companies, and implementing a strategy to encourage Islanders to buy more local products and services.

“By working together we will attract new businesses to PEI, support existing businesses by encouraging Islanders to buy more local products, and create more jobs for Islanders,” said the Premier.

The Premier noted that P.E.I. exports, for the first time ever, exceeded $1 billion in 2014. To build on this success, a Liberal Government will introduce Prince Edward Island’s most comprehensive prospecting strategy ever, Sales Force P.E.I.

Sales Force P.E.I. will bring new companies to the province, promote Island products and identify opportunities for local businesses.

“We will promote Prince Edward Island as a great place to live, work and grow a business,” said the Premier. “We will establish a network of business leaders and Islanders to act as ambassadors for our province and use their expertise and experience to help create new jobs and opportunities for Islanders.”

Prince Edward Island imports more products than it exports, or buys more than it sells. A Liberal Government will launch a new strategy, It All Starts at Home, to promote buying local.

“We will work with Islanders to buy more local products and services. It all starts with where and how we shop – where we spend our vacation budget, where we buy our food, our products and our services,” said the Premier. “We will do more to promote the importance of buying local to help our Island businesses grow and create jobs for Islanders.”

Premier MacLauchlan announced these initiatives in Poole’s Corner, stating that a Liberal Government will make Prince Edward Island a world-class location for Marine Technology and introduce new incentives for manufacturers.

“We will invest in under-used facilities in rural P.E.I. where new manufacturing and technology businesses can grow and prosper,” said the Premier. “We want to repeat the success story that is Aspen Kemp & Associates; industry and government working together to create jobs for Islanders.”