NEWS RELEASES
DURING OUTREACH TOUR PETTIGREW RENEWS MOU AND WELCOMES KRAUS GROUP EXPORT SUCCESS
April 17, 2000 (2 p.m. EDT)
DURING OUTREACH TOUR PETTIGREW RENEWS MOU AND WELCOMES KRAUS
GROUP EXPORT SUCCESS
International Trade Minister Pierre S. Pettigrew today renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the
Government of Canada and the province of Manitoba to deliver international trade development services to Manitoba
exporters -- and witnessed a major export deal signed by a Winnipeg company.
"This federal-provincial partnership has been a tremendous success here in delivering effective export services to Manitoba
companies," said the Minister. "Building on that success, I am very pleased to renew this MOU for another five years."
The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade plays a key role in helping Manitoba businesses succeed in
global markets. The International Trade Centre in Winnipeg identifies and implements joint export efforts throughout
Manitoba. Canadian missions abroad, through the Trade Commissioner Service, provide valuable overseas client services
and market intelligence, particularly to small and medium-sized enterprises.
During a site visit today to Kraus Group Inc. of Winnipeg, Minister Pettigrew also witnessed the signing of two contracts
worth over $5.8 million with the Sheng Jie Ming Company of Beijing, China for Kraus to supply liquid propane gas and
compressed natural gas refuelling stations in Beijing.
"Kraus is a great example of how small and medium-sized Canadian firms can compete and succeed in world markets,"
said the Minister. "Winnipeg benefits with jobs created through international trade, and Beijing benefits from lower
pollution levels."
Kraus, a subsidiary of RNG Group Inc. of Mississauga, will manufacture and install 20 liquid propane gas refuelling
stations to refuel approximately 3 000 Beijing city transit buses and supply five compressed natural gas refuelling stations
in Beijing. The two projects are an important component of the Chinese government's policy to reduce air pollution in
major cities.
Mr. Pettigrew is in Winnipeg as part of a cross-Canada tour to promote the importance of international trade to Canada's
economic future. He has visited Montreal and will also travel to Calgary, Vancouver, Sherbrooke, Mississauga, Toronto,
St. John's and Quebec City. The Minister is accompanied in Winnipeg by trade commissioners visiting from Canadian
embassies and consulates in Mexico City, Minneapolis, and Santiago, Chile.
Minister Pettigrew also invited Manitoba business representatives to take part in several trade missions he will be leading
in the coming year. These include: Australia (May 29 to June 2); Russia (June 28 to 30); the Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Hungary and Slovenia (September 11 to 15); Algeria, Morocco and Spain (October 10 to 20); and the Middle East.
Manitoba has several industry sectors that have seen tremendous growth in the last five years, including: aerospace, health
and bio-tech sectors, film and audio, financial services, food processing, information and communication technologies, and
call centres. About 30 percent of Manitoba's GDP is generated by exports in goods and services, amounting to nearly $8
billion in 1998.
For more information on the Trade Commissioner Service, please visit the InfoExport Web site at:
http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/
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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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