December 6, 2001
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced he will lead the seventh Team
Canada trade mission from February 13-21, 2002 to promote Canada’s business
ties with Russia and Germany. The Prime Minister will be joined by provincial
premiers, territorial leaders and business executives from across the country.
They will travel to Moscow, Berlin and Munich.
"Since the inaugural trip in 1994, Team Canada has been a spectacular
success in terms of raising Canada’s profile in key markets around the world."
said the Prime Minister. "I know it will anchor our presence in the
increasingly open Russian market and make our already solid commercial
relationship with Germany even stronger."
The Canadian business delegation will be drawn from several priority sectors,
including agriculture and agri-food, construction, educational technologies and
services, energy, environmental industries and technologies, health and
financial services, information and communication technologies, and
transportation.
In 2000, Canada’s two-way trade with Russia and Germany reached nearly $870
million and $11 billion, respectively. Russia’s expanding and increasingly
open economy presents significant commercial opportunities for Canadian
business. Germany is a key investment partner with Canada, with over $10 billion
invested between the two countries in important sectors as such aerospace,
automotive, and financial and pharmaceutical services.
The Prime Minister has led previous Team Canada missions to China in 1994;
India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia in 1996; South Korea, the Philippines
and Thailand in 1997; Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Chile in 1998; Japan in
September 1999; and China and Hong Kong in 2001. He has also led Team Canada
Atlantic missions to Boston in 2000 and Atlanta in 2001, and recently concluded
a Team Canada West mission to Dallas and Los Angeles.
These initiatives have helped more than 2,550 representatives of Canadian
businesses and organizations gain access to international markets, directly
contributing to some $30.2 billion in new business.
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PMO Press Office (613) 957-5555
