ESS International Trade and Investment Activities

Canada's Earth sciences and geomatics industries are major contributors to the Canadian economy and key players in the global market. Their comparative advantage is demonstrated by competitively exporting products and services. The International Division and the Global Opportunities program (GOP) of the Earth Sciences Sector (ESS) work closely together to maximize the effectiveness of the Sector's international work and to reinforce Canada's knowledge, technology, leadership and influence in the area of earth sciences.

The International Division of ESS leads, coordinates and monitors the Sector's international trade and investment activities and promotes the use of Canadian earth sciences knowledge and technology overseas in partnership with the Canadian private sector. This work is complemented by the Global Opportunities program (GOP), which manages international projects that address priority issues of developing countries. This program coordinates ESS participation in externally funded international development projects where earth sciences can contribute significantly to social, economic, and sustainable development. For more information on ESS international activities and GOP.

Successful Mission to China

The Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) for ESS, Dr. Irwin Itzkovitch, and the ADM of the Minerals and Mining Sector, Gary Nash, represented NRCan at the China Mining Congress and Exhibition in November, 2004. This visit aimed to enhance relationships with Chinese earth sciences institutions and further promote earth sciences projects, including mutually beneficial business opportunities. As a result, Letters of Intent were signed with the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources for cooperation in groundwater and remote sensing applications and also signed with the China Geological Survey to help develop joint projects and open the way to a future Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). An Annex on Investigation of Earthquake Precursors was also agreed to under an existing MOU with the China Earthquake Administration. In particular, the groundwork was laid for Minister Peterson of International Trade Canada to sign an MOU for collaboration in earth sciences with the Ministry of Land and Resources during the Prime Minister's trip to China in January 2005.

Cooperation in the Canadian and Chinese Oil and Gas Sector

In addition to the trade mission, GOP recently launched the ESS-China Hydrocarbon Geoscience Collaboration Project. It contributes to producing sustainable clean energy by bringing together the oil and gas sectors from two of the world's largest countries. ESS is working with the China National Petroleum Corporation, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China Petroleum University, and the Canadian geoscience community to develop petroleum system models and exploration technologies to extract unconventional oil and gas resources. This project will also conduct laboratory tests and field workshops to develop new geological and geochemical constraints of basin models that are essential for mapping undiscovered petroleum resources in both Chinese and Canadian basins. As conventional hydrocarbon resources decrease, Canada and China can benefit by working together to secure future energy supplies from non-traditional hydrocarbon sources.

Geomatics Trade Mission to Mexico

Led by Dr. Irwin Itzkovitch, ESS showcased Canadian excellence in the application of geomatics technologies through presentations and meetings at the United Nations-International Federation of Surveyors (UN-FIG) Special Forum on Latin America held in Aguascalientes, Mexico, in October, 2004. This forum addressed benefits and concerns related to the effective development and use of Spatial Data Infrastructure. After the forum, ESS representatives met with other organizations in Guadalajara and Mexico City. Initial benefits of this mission are the establishment and strengthening of relationships between Canadian firms and their counterparts in Latin America. In addition, ESS gained a better appreciation of Latin American geomatics priorities and technologies and enhanced their awareness of the ESS expertise required to further develop Canada-Latin America collaboration and business.

Geoscience Project Lessens Impacts of Natural Disasters in the Andes

The Multinational Andean Project: Geoscience for Andean Communities (MAP:GAC) is improving the quality of life in the Andean nations of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela by reducing the effects of earthquakes, landslides, and volcanoes. To achieve this goal, more than 32 workshops were conducted covering topics such as communicating science to non-scientists, natural hazard risk awareness, remote sensing, landslide methodology, web-based digital libraries using a distributed network, and shallow geophysics. Before the CIDA-funded project started, the geoscience surveys of Bolivia, Ecuador, and Venezuela did no geological hazard work. However, with the support of MAP: GAC, each of these countries now has competent practitioners working on projects of national importance. Another major accomplishment of the project includes an agreement between the Iberoamerican Association of Civil Defense and Civil Protection agencies and MAP: GAC to work together to provide communities with better hazard information and mitigation strategies.

Global Benefits Expected from Northeastern Brazil Groundwater Project

The CIDA-funded Northeastern Brazil Groundwater project (Projeto Agua Subterrinea no Nordeste do Brasi - PROASNE) concluded in 2004 to the satisfaction of its Brazilian and Canadian partners, including ESS. Operating in four semi-arid pilot areas in the states of Ceará, Pernambuco, and Rio Grande do Norte, this technology transfer and capacity-building project contributed to the sustainable development of Brazil's groundwater resources. PROASNE used airborne electromagnetic methods to rapidly map geological structures that control the occurrence of groundwater in granitic bedrock and applied Canadian solar technology to manage groundwater resources. It also developed a national interactive groundwater database and information system that is accessible via the Internet and is now being implemented in Brazil. This database has generated important spin-off revenues for the Canadian company involved in its creation. The knowledge gained from this project is serving as a model for the growing worldwide water-resources development market.

Applying Geomatics Expertise to Improve Africa's Resource Management

ESS has been actively involved with African nations in many capacities over the past year. In September 2004, the Executive Secretary of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), Mr. Youba Sokona, met with the Assistant Deputy Minister of ESS, Dr. Irwin Itzkovitch, to discuss implementation of geomatics training on water management and environmental protection. The OSS provides a framework for exchanging information used to combat desertification and lessen the effects of drought. As well, ESS representatives established relationships with a number of other regional organizations and funding agencies to pursue opportunities to help companies enter new markets and to help African countries address their sustainable development issues.

The increased emphasis on Africa is building on the Sector's success in Tunisia as part of its GOP GEONAT project to help Tunisia establish a national geomatics infrastructure. Working with the Canadian private sector, ESS presented the Tunisian government with a strategic plan to implement a national geomatics program. Following the plan's acceptance, managers, leaders, and decision-makers attended information sessions that described geomatics and its potential use in Tunisia. In addition, managers from various Tunisian government departments received geomatics training through the University of Laval and Cégep Limoilou.