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Junior Team Canada MissionRemarks by the Hon. David KilgourM.P. for Edmonton-BeaumontTo Junior Team Canada mission to Hong Kong and ChinaPlace Bell Canada4 August, 2004Ladies and gentlemen, Mesdames
et Messieurs, This mission is important to the prosperity of this nation. I’d
like to commend the organizers for their hard work. You 34 young people are charged with:
The responsibility you have offers real hope for
global partnerships. You have been
selected from over 600 applicants to provide solutions.
What an honour! Congratulations. Vous
avez été choisi par mis au-delà de 600 candidats pour trouver des solutions
et faire de l’avant dans les partenariats globales. Quel honneur!
Félicitations! You represent some of
Canada’s key growth sectors: agriculture,
biotechnology, education, IT, finance, tourism, oil and gas, and construction.
Companies such as IBM, Bombardier, GlaxoSmithKline, the National Tourism
Commission, Deloitte and Touche, Alberta Economic Development Corp, Ottawa
University, Forest Product Association of Canada, and BMO.
These companies are showing an unwavering commitment to you and to
Canada’s global footprint. This is no “free lunch” for you. You had to raise at least $4,000 towards the mission costs.
You have been busy in your own regions making the connections necessary
to make it all possible. You have
been successful in gaining national exposure and raising the importance of trade
to help our country grow and prosper. With
representation from coast to coast, to coast.
BC to Labrador, you are in all senses of the word, ambassadors for
Canada. Your mission is especially critical as Hong Kong
and China are vital trading partners. The
Canada-China relationship encompasses trade and economic exchanges, human rights
dialogues, sustainable development, legal cooperation and cultural exchanges.
China is our third-largest trading partner. Over 400 Canadian firms have a
permanent presence in China and are establishing commercial and technological
linkages with Chinese companies. Hong Kong is among our top
trading partners and is one of the most interesting cities on earth.
In 2002, Canada exported $1.2 billion worth of goods to Hong Kong, making
it Canada's 12th largest export market.
Canadian imports from Hong Kong in 2002 were almost $1 billion.
By the way, Hong Kong is one of my favourite places on earth.
Amy Giroux will have to shoe horn you out of the place! Having gone with the JTC
Trade Mission 2002 to China, I have seen first hand the impact JTC Ambassadors
are having promoting Canada on the international stage.
It is remarkable to see youth in action, making presentations on behalf
of Canadian companies and organizations that are looking to gain more presence
in particular markets. The memories come back of
Shanghai and Guangzhou. What a
group we were, someone got lost – briefly – in downtown Shanghai in a
bicycle taxi. Guangzhou is my own
favourite city on the mainland: the people are open and there are so many links
to Canada. As you know, many
Canadians of origin in China including the Governor General and Raymond Chan
come from the region. We all had a fascinating time in both cities. I am confident that JTC
will offer many opportunities to enable you to be a skilled workforce, dynamic
entrepreneurs, and allow you to reap the benefits of the global economy. Je suis confiant que les activités reliés à ce programme vous
donnerons les atouts nécessaires pour réussir dans le marché du travail et
dans la croissance économique au niveau globale. Encore, permettez-moi de vous remercier d’être par mis les vôtres ce
soir.
It is truly an honour for me to be among such a talented group of young
people in these very exciting times. I
wish you a very successful and enriching experience on this JTC mission to China
and Hong Kong. Bonne
chance et bon séjour! |
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