NEWS RELEASES
CANADA CO-SPONSORS THE FIRST-EVER INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS WOMEN IN EXPORT SEMINAR
June 18, 1999 (3:45 p.m. EDT) No. 150
CANADA CO-SPONSORS THE FIRST-EVER INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS WOMEN
IN EXPORT SEMINAR
The Government of Canada and New Zealand's Ministry of Women's Affairs are co-sponsoring the first-ever Indigenous Women
in Export Seminar from June 18 to 20 in Wellington, New Zealand.
The seminar brings together about 70 Aboriginal businesswomen from APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum)
economies to share best business practices and to discuss the challenges faced by indigenous women who have been successful in
building firms both domestically and internationally. The seminar gives Aboriginal-owned small and medium-sized enterprises a
forum for greater involvement in the APEC trade network and supports their efforts to export their products and services to APEC
markets.
"This is a unique opportunity to learn from the first-hand experiences of Aboriginal women who are already exporting their products
and services," said International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi. "It's a valuable learning situation, both for the participants and for
the APEC economies that are looking for ways to support these businesswomen so they can grow and flourish in the global
marketplace."
The first international event of its kind for Aboriginal businesswomen, the APEC-related seminar precedes the Women Leaders'
Network meeting. Recommendations from the seminar will be made to the APEC ministers of trade at the end of June.
Four Aboriginal Canadian businesswomen will attend: Francine Whiteduck of Whiteduck Resources Inc. (Ottawa); Joanne Pener
of Plastic Rotational Kontainers (Calgary); Shirley Moorhouse of Drumdancer Art and Crafts (Goose Bay, Labrador); and Carol
Ann Barnaby of Abanaki Association (Ottawa). Seventeen other APEC member economies will also send participants.
Canadian partners supporting the event include the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Indian and Northern
Affairs Canada, the Canadian International Development Agency and Aboriginal Business Canada.
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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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