NEWS RELEASES

September 19, 2000 (1:30 p.m. EDT) No. 241

PETTIGREW ANNOUNCES NEW TRADE OFFICE IN

HIROSHIMA, JAPAN

International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew today announced the official opening of a new trade section in Canada's Honorary Consulate in Hiroshima, Japan. Canada's Ambassador to Japan, Leonard J. Edwards, presided over the opening ceremony in Hiroshima, attended by local government and private sector leaders.

"The 1999 Team Canada Mission to Japan reconfirmed the numerous opportunities that exist for Canadian companies in Japan's regions," said Mr. Pettigrew. "These new resources in Hiroshima will especially help small and medium-sized Canadian businesses take advantage of emerging opportunities to forge new partnerships with Japanese firms."

The trade section in Hiroshima is the first Canadian office of its kind in Japan, and is the latest in a series of steps taken by the Government of Canada to expand its presence throughout Japan in response to the growing dynamism of many of the country's regional economies. Yearly bilateral trade between Canada and Hiroshima prefecture is roughly $760 million.

Canada is also represented in Japan by the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, the Consulate General in Osaka, Consulates in Fukuoka and Nagoya, and Honorary Consulates in Sapporo and Sendai.

- 30 -

A backgrounder is attached.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Backgrounder

TRADE SECTION OF THE HONORARY CONSULATE OF CANADA

IN HIROSHIMA

The Government of Canada recognizes the growing dynamism of Japan's regional markets and views Hiroshima prefecture as a unique and important market. The Trade Section of the Honorary Consulate of Canada in Hiroshima will seek to increase opportunities for Canadian companies and companies based in Hiroshima prefecture to forge new business relationships, particularly small and medium-sized companies. Specifically, it will endeavour to:

• deepen Canadian knowledge and understanding of Hiroshima prefecture and of the prefectural economy in particular;

• advise Hiroshima-based businesses regarding Canadian capabilities and help them identify Canadian partners and opportunities for investment in Canada;

• advise Canadian businesses regarding local conditions and help them identify Hiroshima-based partners and opportunities for investment in Hiroshima prefecture; and

• create opportunities for new business relationships between Canadian and Hiroshima-based companies, in part through the organization of events such as missions, trade fairs and seminars.

Canada has had strong ties to Hiroshima prefecture for a number of years. Canadian honorary representation was first established in 1991, and the city of Hiroshima twinned with Montreal, Quebec, in 1998. Fukuyama, also in Hiroshima prefecture, has been twinned with Hamilton, Ontario, since 1976. The GDP of Hiroshima prefecture is equivalent to around $157 billion. There is a high concentration of regional business in the area.

The coordinates of the office and the Commercial Officer are as follows:

Mr. Scott McKeeman

Commercial Officer

Trade Section of the Honorary Consulate of Canada in Hiroshima

Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce Building (7th floor)

5-44 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-8510

JAPAN

Tel/Fax: (082) 211-0505

Email: ctohiroshima@gol.com

The office will operate between the hours of 09:00 and 17:30 from Monday to Friday.