CANITA
Carolina and
Northern Ireland
Trade Association


You’re Invited to Expand your Business as you Expand your Horizons

You are cordially invited to attend a breakfast meeting to learn about CANITA and the exciting trade opportunities that are available between York County, the Charlotte Region and Northern Ireland.

A number of companies and economic developers from Northern Ireland are expected to visit York County and the Charlotte Region in September 2008. They will be looking for opportunities in relation to trade, joint ventures, licensing and investment.

It is also hoped to explore interest from local companies in visiting Northern Ireland on a trade mission .



CANITA ‘09 Trade Mission

The CANITA ’09 initiative is being organized by Larne Enterprise Development Company (LEDCOM) Northern Ireland and York County Economic Development. The aim is to bring together business leaders from Northern Ireland and the Carolinas through pre-qualified meetings that will encourage international trade, joint ventures and investment.

Mission Objectives
• To highlight opportunities for trade and investment between Northern Ireland communities and the Charlotte Region.
• To provide qualified business to business meetings/leads for participating companies
• To develop networks/contacts between companies and economic developers in Northern Ireland and the Carolinas.
• To identify and promote support for joint ventures, inward/outward investment, trade development, etc.



History of CANITA

Since the 1700s there have been ties between York County and County Antrim, when the first Scots-Irish settlers landed on South Carolina (Ulster Scots) soil and made their first American homes in York County. In 1996, Larne began a twinning relationship with Clover, South Carolina that celebrated both regions’ ancestry and settlement ties. Since then, this relationship has expanded to include York County and the entire Charlotte and upstate South Carolina region.

Now business leaders are taking these connections to a new level by exploring the business opportunities they both offer. Building on the historical links and the dynamic economic opportunities in Northern Ireland and the Carolinas, the Carolinas Northern Ireland Trade Association (CANITA) was formed; www.canita.org.

For more information, please contact Geraldine Smyth
(028) 28269973
Email geraldinesmyth@ledcomwbp.org