NEWS RELEASES
MARCHI TO LEAD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MISSION TO IRELAND
May 7, 1999 (1:40 p.m. EDT) No. 103
MARCHI TO LEAD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MISSION TO IRELAND
International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi will lead a business development mission to Ireland from June 13 to 15.
Over 70 companies are expected to join the mission, which will coincide with Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's official
visit to Ireland.
"Canada and Ireland are both gateways to enormous continent-wide markets," said Minister Marchi. "This fact provides
tremendous opportunities for Canadian and Irish companies to develop strategic business alliances, for both investment
and trade."
The business development mission will focus on sectors that offer good business potential for Canadian companies, such
as telecommunications, information technology and software development; agri-food; construction and building
products; environmental services; and medical and health products. Another focus will be the cultural sector, notably for
newer exporters of recorded music.
Mission participants will attend a special orientation program that will provide information on doing business in Ireland,
profiles of their sector of interest, and opportunities to meet and network with potential business partners. Interested
companies are invited to contact Peter McGovern, director of the Canadian Business Development Mission to Ireland, at
(613) 944-2520 or by fax at (613) 996-3406 for more information.
Two-way trade between Canada and the "Celtic tiger" reached $1.5 billion in 1998, a 100% increase since 1995. Canada
exports mainly machinery and electronics, optical and medical instruments, wood and wood pulp, pharmaceutical
products, aluminum and animal feed, while it imports chemicals, pharmaceutical and medical products, electronic
components, machinery, aircraft parts, beverages and foods. Ireland is Canada's fourth-largest destination for foreign
investment, which stood at approximately $6.9 billion in 1997.
Minister Marchi will also travel to Brussels, where he will meet with members of the European Commission, and to
Cologne where he will join the Prime Minister at the Canada-European Union Summit on June 17.
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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
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