Trade
bright with two Southern Cone countries
By
David Kilgour, Secretary of State (Latin
America & Africa)
(Continued
from Part 1)
February 1998
Team
Canada ’98 - part II
Team Canada
trade missions have been a watershed in
Canada's approach to international business
development, demonstrating what can be achieved
when the governments and the private sector
work together. For Canadian companies they
mean new markets and increased exports while
for the entire country they mean more jobs.
Team Canada missions also helped to build
new business relationships among Canadian
companies. As Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
said, "people who are together for two weeks
do a lot of business among themselves."
Argentina
The mission's
third stop, after Mexico and Brazil, brought
Canadian team to the "Paris of South America"
- the capital of Argentina - Buenos Aires.
The broad tree-lined avenues, elegant residential
districts and eclectic architecture of Buenos
Aires make it look like some cosmopolitan
European cities.
Spurred by
exports, foreign investments and economic
stability, Argentina's economy is recovering.
Despite the "tequila effect" - the painful
side-effects in Latin America caused by
Mexico's peso crisis and recession in 1994-95
- Argentina's economic outlook is bright.
Trade between Argentina and Canada has increased
markedly in recent years. From 1992 to 1997,
two-way trade jumped from $226 million to
almost $626 million. Figures for 1997 indicate
that Canadian exports to Argentina amounted
to some $394.61 million, a 92 per cent increase
over the same period in 1996.
Canada is
now the third largest foreign investor in
Argentina. Our companies are active in the
oil, gas, mining, and energy sectors. They
are also exploring opportunities in emerging
areas such as geomatics, the environment,
automotive parts and accessories, telecommunication,
health, tourism and building products.
During the
Team Canada mission there, both countries
signed five bilateral accords. "The Team
Canada mission clearly has given our two
countries the opportunity to expand and
deepen our commitment to a number of important
social, educational and humanitarian issues,"
said the Prime Minister.
In terms
of business initiatives - 70 new business
deals worth over $143 million were signed
in Buenos Aires.
Argentina's
Aboriginal Businesspeople
A timely
and important meeting between Canadian and
Argentine Aboriginal businesspeople took
place during our visit in Buenos Aires.
It served as a useful opportunity to initiate
discussions on possible business opportunities
or cooperation between the two countries
Aboriginal businesses and organizations.
Argentinians indicated that there are 23
different indigenous cultures in their country,
representing 1.5 million people. They outlined
opportunities for developing eco and cultural
tourism in Argentina's northern provinces
as well as good economic prospects in forestry
in the Chace region, where a large part
of the land is in the control in indigenous
groups.
Chile
Chile was
our last destination. A stable economy,
efficient services and a friendly, well-educated
population combine to make doing business
in Chile smooth, straight-forward and direct.
Relations between Canada and Chile have
expanded steadily since Chile's return to
democracy in March 1990. Chile is active
internationally on many issues that are
also of concern to Canada, such as high
seas fisheries, reform of the Organization
of American States, regional security, disarmament
and human rights and the eradication of
landmines.
Trade between
our countries is increasing at a rapid rate.
Over the past five years, it has expanded
by 100 per cent. Last year, Chile was our
5th largest export market in South America
- $378 million worth. In return, Chile exported
$324 million worth to Canada. The Canada-Chile
Free Trade Agreement that came into force
in July, 1997 provided the foundation for
developing stronger and broader economic
and trade ties. In Santiago, the Prime minister
and Team Canada witnessed the signing of
66 new business deals including 28 contracts
and 38 agreements in principle.
As the Prime
Minister put it: "Our stop in Santiago has
brought a positive, productive and busy
end to Team Canada '98. But our work will
not end here. The agreements signed here
between governments and businesses are not
ends in themselves, but means to much more
profound ends: creating new prosperity for
our peoples, helping them to follow their
dreams and build new ones; and building
a better quality of life."
|
