NEWS RELEASES
PETTIGREW TO PROMOTE CANADIAN EXPORTERS DURING VISIT TO URUGUAY, ARGENTINA AND CHILE
March 6, 2000 (11:10 a.m. EST) No. 37
PETTIGREW TO PROMOTE CANADIAN EXPORTERS
DURING VISIT TO URUGUAY, ARGENTINA AND CHILE
International Trade Minister Pierre S. Pettigrew will travel to Uruguay, Argentina and Chile from March 8
to 13 to meet key political leaders and to promote the expertise and savvy of Canadian exporters.
In meetings with the region's newly elected leaders and ministers, Mr. Pettigrew will also urge progress
on hemispheric free trade through continued work on the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).
"Canada's economic future is directly linked to that of our hemispheric neighbours," said the Minister.
"The focus of my visit is to demonstrate Canadian know-how in key sectors such as mining,
information technology and services."
In Uruguay on March 8, Minister Pettigrew will meet with newly elected President Jorge Batlle and
Foreign Relations Minister Dr. Didier Opertti, and will review the progress of projects between Canadian
businesses and the Uruguayan government.
While in Argentina on March 9 and 10, Mr. Pettigrew will meet with several ministers, including
Rodriguez Giavarini, Minister for External Relations and International Trade. During their meeting they
will discuss progress on the FTAA, whose negotiations Argentina now chairs.
"The FTAA will position Canada on the ground floor of one of the principal economic areas of the
world," said Mr. Pettigrew. "When the FTAA negotiations are concluded in 2005, the FTAA will be the
world's largest free trade region, with a population of 800 million people and a combined GDP of nearly
$11 trillion."
In addition to leading a business delegation in Chile from March 10 to 13, Minister Pettigrew will attend
the inauguration of President-elect Ricardo Lagos and officially open the Canadian Maritime Group
Office in Viña del Mar.
In 1999, two-way merchandise trade between Canada and Uruguay, Argentina and Chile totalled over
$1.4 billion. Canadian investment in these countries is estimated at $13 billion.
This mission continues Canada's long-term commitment to the Americas that began last year with the
hosting of the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, the Conference of the First Spouses of Heads of State
and Government of the Americas in Ottawa, and the FTAA Ministerial Meeting in Toronto. This June, the
city of Windsor, Ontario, will host the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS),
marking Canada's 10th anniversary as a member of the OAS. Then in Quebec City, in April 2001,
Canada will host the third Summit of the Americas, which will bring together the region's 34
democratically elected leaders.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sylvie Bussières
Office of the Minister for International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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