Prime Minister visits a Team Canada Exporter

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien got a first-hand look today at Canadian "virtual reality" monitoring technology in action. "Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition" or SCADA systems are sold to countries all over the world by Burnaby-based Unitec International Controls Corporation.

In recent years, Unitec -- a Team Canada participant -- has seen its sales climb by as much as 400% per year. The company exports to St. Lucia, Hong Kong, Korea, Indonesia, the Middle East, Malaysia and the U.S. In developing countries, Unitec technology has helped utilities upgrade and improve the reliability of their services, including drinking water, electricity and gas.

"Unitec shows how Canadian know-how sold to countries abroad is creating jobs at home," stated the Prime Minister. "Exports mean jobs. If more Canadian small businesses find opportunities in foreign markets, like Unitec, we will get the jobs we want."

Expanding exports is a critical focus of the government's Jobs Strategy. According to Industry Canada, of the nearly one million Canadian companies with 100 or fewer employees, only about 10% currently export.

Unitec has grown from 12 to 20 employees this year alone. More than 70% of the company's sales are exports. Unitec credits its Team Canada deal with creating three jobs at Unitec, and another two with its Canadian suppliers. The original $300,000 deal has since expanded by $1.3 million and the company is currently in negotiations for an additional $15 million in sales.

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