NEWS RELEASES
CANADA PURSUES BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIESIN THE MIDDLE EAST
November 14, 1996 No. 208
CANADA PURSUES BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
IN THE MIDDLE EAST
The Honourable Art Eggleton, Minister for International Trade, today announced
that his Parliamentary Secretary, Ron MacDonald, will lead a Canada-Arab Business
Council (CABC) delegation to the Middle East from November 16 to 24, 1996. The
CABC delegation will pursue business opportunities in Oman, the United Arab
Emirates and Jordan. From November 25 to 27, Mr. MacDonald will visit Kuwait,
Israel and the West Bank and Gaza to conduct bilateral discussions with economic
and political leaders from the region.
"The presence of the Canada-Arab Business Council delegation signals the
importance Canadian businesses place on the Middle East market," said Mr.
MacDonald. "Helping to build a stronger Middle East economy will contribute to
the process of acheiving a comprehensive and lasting peace in this region.
Creating business opportunities in this region will stimulate exports and create
jobs for all Canadians."
While in Kuwait, Mr. MacDonald will support the activities of Canadian firms,
including the Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd. project. Mr. MacDonald will also meet
with officials in Israel and with the Palestinian Authority to discuss regional
and bilateral issues including the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement.
"Canada continues to liberalize its trade through the establishment of this free
trade agreement. Mr. MacDonald's dialogue with the Palestinian Authority will
help further our efforts to expand commercial relations with the Palestinian
Authority. This includes our desire to extend the benefits of this agreement to
goods originating from the West Bank and Gaza," Mr. Eggleton said.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Nicole Bourget
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister for International Trade
(613) 996-6271
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
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