NEWS RELEASES
MARCHI TO LEAD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MISSION TO THE MIDDLE EAST
February 19, 1999 (9:15 a.m. EST) No. 33
MARCHI TO LEAD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MISSION
TO THE MIDDLE EAST
International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi will lead a business development mission to the Middle East from
February 22 to 28. The itinerary will include stops in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates
(UAE), Israel, and Gaza and the West Bank. Mr. Marchi will be accompanied by a delegation with representatives
of 44 Canadian companies doing business in the region.
"Canada's exports to these four markets totalled more than $1.3 billion in 1997," said Mr. Marchi. "This mission is
an opportunity for Canadian business to build on existing partnerships, and to further expand into a region that
holds great promise economically."
Priority sectors for Canadian exporters during the mission include telecommunications, information technologies,
agri-food, engineering and construction, oil and gas, and power generation and transmission. Opportunities also
exist in the education and training sector.
Upon arrival on February 22, Mr. Marchi will visit the Canadian-designed King Adbulaziz Historical Museum in
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, before launching a joint meeting of the Canada-Arab Business Council and the Council of
Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The following day, the Minister will participate in the ninth session of
the Canada-Saudi Joint Economic Commission, and will meet with a number of leading Saudi government
officials.
In the UAE on February 24, Mr. Marchi will open the new Canadian Embassy building in Abu Dhabi, meet with
several Ministers from the UAE, and deliver a speech to the Canada Business Council, Abu Dhabi. He will also
visit Dubai to meet with government officials and Canadian business representatives. On February 25, the Minister
will meet with the Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi. He
will then visit the Sharjah Expo Centre, where a Canadian Technology Showcase will be taking place, before
departing for Israel that evening.
"Canada is committed to promoting a stable economic and political environment in the Middle East," said Mr.
Marchi. "By supporting stronger economic links, we can broaden Canada's presence in the region and build on our
existing political partnerships."
In Israel, Mr. Marchi will attend a meeting with Israeli Trade Minister Natan Sharansky to review the two-year-old
Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA) and explore ways to continue advancing our trade relationship with
Israel. Since implementation of the CIFTA on January 1, 1997, trade between the two countries has grown by
40 percent. The Minister will also meet with Israeli government officials in Jerusalem. He will then travel to Tel Aviv
to witness the signing of business agreements and to address the Canadian Business Delegation.
On Friday, February 26, Minister Marchi will be the first Canadian official to fly into Gaza International Airport. He
will then meet with Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat in Gaza City.
The following day, Mr. Marchi will travel to Ramallah, West Bank, to sign a joint Canadian-Palestinian Framework
for Economic Co-operation and Trade. He will also officially open the Canadian Representative Office in Ramallah.
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A list of participants in the Business Development Mission is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Leslie Swartman
Office of the Minister for International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
Backgrounder
Participants in the Business Development Mission
to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,
Israel, and Gaza and the West Bank
AGRA International Limited, Oakville, Ontario
Alberta Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, Edmonton, Alberta
Bank of Nova Scotia, Toronto, Ontario
Bombardier Aerospace, Regional Aircraft Division, Downsview, Ontario
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Ottawa, Ontario
Canada Post Systems Management Ltd., Ottawa, Ontario
Canadian Bank Note Company Limited, Ottawa, Ontario
Canadian Commercial Corporation, Ottawa, Ontario
Cansult Group Ltd., Markham, Ontario
Carnegie Crescent Consulting, Thornhill, Ontario
Edwin Industries Canada Inc., Richmond Hill, Ontario
EFA Software Services Ltd., Calgary, Alberta
Eicon Technology Corporation, Montreal, Quebec
Export Development Corporation, Ottawa, Ontario
Ferrell Building Supplies Ltd., Stoney Creek, Ontario
Fulton Windows, Mississauga, Ontario
G.A. Paper International Inc., Markham, Ontario
General Motors of Canada Limited, Diesel Division, London, Ontario
Georgian College, Barrie, Ontario
Harris Canada Inc., Dollard des Ormeaux, Quebec
Ingersoll-Rand Canada Inc., Rexdale, Ontario
JG Group of Companies, Waterloo, Ontario
Joe Ng Engineering, Hamilton, Ontario
Loyalist College, Belleville, Ontario
Manitoba Trade and Investment Corp., Winnipeg, Manitoba
Ministère de l'Industrie, du Commerce, de la Science et de la Technologie du Québec, Montreal, Quebec
Nautel Limited, Tantallon, Nova Scotia
Newbridge Networks Corp., Kanata, Ontario
Oakville Electric Motor Services Inc., Mississauga, Ontario
Omni Research Group, Dorval, Quebec
P.A. Management International (Canada) Inc., Montreal, Quebec
Petro Staff International Ltd., Calgary, Alberta
Serdim Technologies Corporation (Canada), Sainte-Dorothée, Quebec
Shade-o-Matic, North York, Ontario
SHL Systemhouse Co., Ottawa, Ontario
SNC-Lavalin International Inc., Montreal, Quebec
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, Alberta
SR Telecom Inc., Montreal, Quebec
Standard Aero Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba
Telexis Corporation, Kanata, Ontario
Terra Surveys Limited, Ottawa, Ontario
Trow Consulting Engineers Ltd., Brampton, Ontario
Universal Systems Ltd. (CARIS), Fredericton, New Brunswick
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
York University, Schulich School of Business, North York, Ontario
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