APCC calls on Atlantic premiers to step up efforts on regional economic cooperation

The Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce (APCC) has been advocating for economic cooperation amongst the four Atlantic Provinces for decades and today calls on the four Atlantic premiers to join forces now and step up efforts to force real progress to secure a bright future for all Atlantic Canadians.

Speaking at the Saint John Board of Trade, APCC’s president and CEO Bill Denyar presented Rebranding Atlantica – One region, One strong voice. In his presentation, he discussed the history of both APCC and its Atlantica initiative.

APCC is wrapping up the current phase of the Atlantica Project, a multi-year project focused on regional economic cooperation.

Most people in Atlantic Canada have at one time or another heard of or read about Atlantica. And today, Denyar updated Saint John and area business and community leaders on the Atlantica concept’s past, present, and future.

“We want people to know that, at APCC, Atlantica is all about working together as a region to maximize the opportunities we have to create growth and prosperity for future generations,” he says.

Behind the Atlantica brand, it has always been APCC’s intent to encourage businesses to partner across the region, across provincial and international borders, to compete together on the global stage and to excel.

Accomplishing regional economic cooperation means governments must reduce barriers to trade, invest in infrastructure, and make rules and regulations more consistent, effective, and business friendly, so commerce thrives and communities grow and prosper.

“Atlantica is about seizing opportunities for growth and prosperity for a promising future,” says Denyar. “Recently, news stories have highlighted calls for regional energy strategies. APCC has been promoting the need for regional strategies for years. That’s what Atlantica is about.”

With the current Atlantica project formally coming to an end, APCC’s president and CEO says moving forward the organization will focus on enhanced advocacy efforts to effectively promote Atlantic prosperity through regional cooperation.

Representing over 16,000 businesses, the Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce is an alliance of more than 100 local chambers of commerce and boards of trade across Atlantic Canada.