December 13, 2002
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced today that he will lead the eighth Team Canada trade mission to the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Italy from March 25 to April 4, 2003. The Prime Minister will be joined by provincial premiers, territorial leaders and business executives from across the country. They will travel to The Hague and Amsterdam, London, Rome and Milan.

"The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Italy are among Canada’s most important trade, investment and science and technology partners in the world," said the Prime Minister. "This second consecutive Team Canada mission to Europe will help build stronger alliances between Canadian and European businesses in some of the most influential centres of commerce, finance, transportation, science and technology, culture and media in Europe."

The Team Canada 2003 trade mission will focus on promoting investment, trade and science and technology development in a number of areas. These include: aerospace, agri-food, construction and building products, culture, education, environment, health, information and communications technology, life sciences and sustainable energy.                                                                                         .../2

The United Kingdom, Italy and the Netherlands are the world’s fourth, seventh and fourteenth largest economies, respectively. Two-way merchandise trade between Canada and these countries reached $25.2 billion in 2001. These countries are the source of close to $38 billion in direct investment in Canada.

Since 1994, Team Canada has visited 21 cities worldwide, directly contributing to new business opportunities for Canada.

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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555