Thank you very much, Madam Chair. It's great to be here. Thanks for the opportunity to appear before the committee on behalf of Candu Energy and AtkinsRéalis.
AtkinsRéalis, as you may know, is a Canadian-headquartered engineering and nuclear technology company. We employ over 42,000 people globally. Through Candu Energy, we're proud stewards of the CANDU technology, a Canadian technology and one of Canada's most successful advanced technology exports. CANDU reactors have operated safely and reliably for more than six decades. We've deployed them in Canada, of course, but also internationally in places like Romania, South Korea, China, Argentina and others.
I'd like to start off by making three key points here today. First, CANDU is a uniquely Canadian export opportunity. Canada is one of only a handful of countries in the world that's developed, built, operated and exported its own nuclear reactor technology. Few Canadian innovations have the potential to create economic value over such a long period of time.
CANDU is not simply a reactor. It represents a complete Canadian ecosystem that includes engineering, advanced manufacturing, fuel production, project management expertise, research institutions and a highly skilled workforce. The intellectual property is Canadian-owned, and the supply chain extends to hundreds of companies right across the country. When a country does choose CANDU, it's not purchasing a reactor alone; it's entering into a long-term partnership with Canada that can last up to 100 years through construction, fuel supply, operations, maintenance, refurbishment and ongoing technical support.
These partnerships create sustained demand for Canadian exports. They support high-value domestic jobs and strengthen Canada's presence in strategically important regions around the world—and the economic benefits are significant. Independent analysis by the Conference Board of Canada found that each CANDU reactor exported internationally can generate up to $4.8 billion in Canadian GDP impact and support more than 2,200 Canadian jobs. To put that into perspective, a six-reactor deployment in a country such as Poland could contribute nearly $30 billion to Canada's GDP and support more than 13,000 Canadian jobs. That would represent one of the largest advanced technology export opportunities in Canada's history, with benefits flowing to engineers, our manufacturing sector, our tradespeople and small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.
My second point is that global demand for nuclear energy creates a once-in-a-generation trade opportunity for Canada. Around the world, governments are turning to nuclear energy to strengthen energy security, to support economic growth and to meet their climate commitments as well. More than 30 countries have joined efforts to significantly expand global nuclear capacity by 2050, recognizing that reliable, large-scale, emissions-free electricity will be essential to powering growing economies and meeting climate goals. We're actively engaged with countries across Europe and Asia—and in the ASEAN as well—that are evaluating new nuclear generation, including Romania, Poland, Turkey and the Philippines, and several other economies that are emerging economies.
The opportunity extends far beyond reactor construction. Canadian companies can export engineering services, specialized equipment, digital technologies, training programs, fuel cycle expertise, maintenance services and operational know-how. Each international CANDU project creates opportunities for hundreds of Canadian suppliers, many of them small and medium-sized businesses.
In today's increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment, countries are seeking trusted partners for critical energy infrastructure, and Canada's reputation for safety, reliability, regulatory excellence and democratic governance gives us a strong competitive advantage.