Korean manufacturer chooses Nova Scotia for North American production plant

* Reuters is not responsible for the content in this press release.

Fri Mar 5, 2010 12:41pm EST

HALIFAX,  March 5  /PRNewswire/ - Korea-based Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine
Engineering (DSME) has chosen  Nova Scotia, Canada, for its North American
production centre for wind turbine towers and blades. The operation will be
located in  Trenton, Pictou County, creating up to 500 direct jobs and is
expected to be operational by fall 2010.

The Province of  Nova Scotia  and DSME have signed a shareholder agreement and
committed to equity investments: DSME is contributing  $20.4 million  and will
hold 51 per cent of the common shares and the Province is contributing  $19.6
million  and will hold 49 per cent of the common shares. The Province will
have a representative on the board of directors. The Province of  Nova Scotia 
is also providing start-up financing, a loan for new equipment, working
capital, and a loan to acquire land and buildings.

"This is a historic day for  Nova Scotia  as we welcome another leading
international manufacturer to our business community" said  Nova Scotia's 
Premier,  Darrell Dexter. "Nova Scotia's  partnership with DSME reinforces the
province's position as a gateway to lucrative North American markets."

The partnership between  Nova Scotia  and DSME is reflective of the province's
work to diversify its sources of foreign direct investment by tapping into
emerging markets, specifically  Asia.

"Nova Scotia  is the right location for DSME as we plot our strategy to
diversify into the wind energy sector," said Mr.  Nam Sang-Tae, CEO &
President of DSME. "We were attracted by  Nova Scotia's  skilled workforce,
efficient transportation systems, competitive costs and multiple energy
sources, including wind, tidal and offshore. The support we received from
government was another key factor in our decision."

The government of  Canada  announced that it intends to invest  $10 million 
in the plant. The investment, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities
Agency, will be a  $5-million  repayable loan and a  $5-million  contribution
for adjacent land improvements.

This venture is the result of more than a year of work that began with signing
a memorandum of understanding to explore economic opportunities. The original
memorandum was developed by DSME, the  Nova Scotia  government departments of
Energy, Economic and Rural Development, and Nova Scotia Business Inc.



DSME is a diversified company and one of the world's largest ship builders.
The South Korean-based company was established in 1973 and today is a
first-class builder of commercial and naval ships and offshore projects. In
2009, DSME acquired DeWind Inc., an American wind turbine engineering company,
and announced plans to expand into the wind power sector and build a
production plant in  North America.  South Korea-based DSME is publicly listed
on the Korean Stock Exchange.

For more information on this and other opportunities, visit: 
www.novascotiabusiness.com/dsme

SOURCE  Nova Scotia Business Inc.


Sarah Levy, Nova Scotia Business Inc., (902) 222-3658, slevy@nsbi.ca; Janet
Lynn McNeil, Nova Scotia Premier's Office, (902) 424-2402, mcneiljl@gov.ns.ca

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