FREDERICTON, New Brunswick – About 60 New Brunswick companies are vying for the 10 spots available on a trade mission to New York.

Prime Minister Jean Chretien and the four Atlantic premiers will accompany 10 businesses from each province to New York City in May.

The mission comes after a number of successful trips to Atlanta and New England.

Those trips resulted in some major contracts for New Brunswick companies.

Business New Brunswick Minister Norm Betts said Thursday that New York is a promising market for the expansion of trade.

He said the number of millionaires in New York is equal to the entire population of New Brunswick.

The Canadian Consulate in New York City already has begun to match New Brunswick companies with prospective partners.

Betts said New Brunswick already has some interesting trade ties with New York, noting buns for hot dogs at Yankee Stadium are baked at Ben’s Bakery in Moncton, New Brunswick.