Search this site powered by FreeFind

Quick Link

for your convenience!

 

Human Rights, Youth Voices etc.

click here


 

For Information Concerning the Crisis in Darfur

click here


 

Northern Uganda Crisis

click here


 

 Whistleblowers Need Protection

 

Team Canada '98 to Latin America largest ever

By David Kilgour, Secretary of State (Latin America & Africa)

January 1998

Team Canada trade missions represent a relatively new trend in Canada's approach to international business development -- they combine the efforts of the Prime Minister and premiers with business people to promote Canadian goods and services abroad. Participants include young entrepreneurs, university deans, arts/ culture/tourism promoters.

The first three Team Canada missions were to Asia: to China in 1994; to India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia in 1996; and South Korea, the Philippines and Thailand in 1997. A major trade mission visited Argentina, Chile and Brazil in 1995.

Canadian firms have concluded nearly 550 new business deals during these missions. They also have helped more than 1,000 companies to gain access to government and private sectors leaders in rapidly expanding markets. According to surveys of Team Canada participants in 1996 and 1997, the majority felt that the missions had added momentum to their business efforts and that their company had benefited from the mission.

Latin America

The Team Canada trip in January 1998 to Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Chile was the largest ever undertaken, with close to 500 companies, a record 64 women entrepreneurs, 35 young entrepreneurs and four indigenous business leaders. Alberta's contingent was third-largest in size, but it brought back the biggest returns in terms of contracts signed. The fast liberalizing economies of Latin America have become priorities for further trade and investment links. In addition, we are also building long-term, institutional links.

Mexico

During the mission's first stop in Mexico City - home to about 13 million people-Canadian businesses and educational institutions signed 91 business deals worth $229.9 million. In addition, TransCanada of Calgary has concluded two agreements that pave the way for work to begin on the construction of the Energia Mayakan Gas Pipeline. The pipeline will deliver natural gas to several power plants in the states of Campeche and Yucatan in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

Mexico is Canada's largest trading partner in Latin America. From 1994 through 1996, two-way trade grew by 30 per cent to $7.3 billion. Over the same period, Canadian exports rose by 66 per cent to reach $1.25 billion. Canada's access to the Mexican market has increased considerably since 1994, when NAFTA came into force. Canadian firms now have increasingly barrier-free access to a market of over 90 million consumers and are expanding sales in the automotive, financial services, trucking, energy and fisheries sectors.

Brazil

Brazil was our next destination. Cosmopolitan, frenzied and sometimes violent, Sao Paulo is Brazil's largest industrial park, generating more than 30% of the country's GDP. In the early 1990s, Brazil scared off many foreign investors as a result of its worst bout of near-hyperinflation. Today, after several years under president Fernando Henrique Cardoso's Real Plan, big firms are starting to renew their interest.

Brazil is one of only ten world markets where Canadian exports exceed $1 billion a year. Our bilateral trade has increased since 1995 to over $2.5 billion a year. Companies entering new business relationships in Brazil represent a wide range of sectors from natural resources to high technology.

In Sao Paulo, we opened the Canadian Education Centre -- the 12th such Centre in the world. The Brazilian education market is the largest in South America and continues to grow. Forty five percent of the country's population - 66 million people -- are of school age. More than 250,000 students currently study English in Brazil and the number of Brazilians studying in Canada has grown steadily from 656 students in 1994 to over 1000 in 1997.

(Continued in Part 2)

 
Home Books Photo Gallery About David Survey Results Useful Links Submit Feedback