Canada and Venezuala Sign Agreement Concerning Audio-Visual Co-production
OTTAWA, February 15, 1996 Deputy Prime Minister and Canadian Heritage Minister Sheila Copps announced that Canada and Venezuela have signed an audio-visual co- production agreement. The official signing took place today in Caracas, with Canadian Ambassador to Venezuela, Yves Gagnon, representing Canada, and Foreign Affairs Minister Miguel Angel Burelli Rivas representing Venezuela.Venezuela and Canada have enjoyed excellent relations and, currently, Venezuela ranks as our third most important trading partner in Latin America. In 1994, trade between the two countries totalled $1.1 billion. There has also been a rapid development in Venezuela's audio-visual industry and this agreement will enable Canadian producers to take advantage of new opportunities in its emerging film and television production sector.
Ms. Copps explained that film and television co-production agreements, such as this one, are an important means of producing quality, culturally significant productions. She added that it will allow Venezuelan and Canadian producers to pool their creative, artistic, technical and financial resources for their mutual benefit.
The Minister reiterated the importance of these agreements for increasing Canadian film and television exports and for projecting Canada's culture internationally, a key objective of Canada's foreign policy. They also allow Canada to access foreign markets, thereby ensuring our presence on the world stage.
Presently, Canada has more than 30 co-production agreements with some 29 countries throughout the world. Ms. Copps pointed out that co-production alone has generated an average of over $300 million annually during the past three years.
Information:
Duncan Dee
Press Secretary
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Canadian Heritage
Telephone: (819) 997-7788
Facsimile: (819) 994-5987
Internet: duncan_dee@pch.gc.ca
Len Westerberg
Communications Branch
Canadian Heritage
Telephone: (819) 994-5589
Facsimile: (819) 953-5521
Internet: len_westerberg@pch.gc.ca
[ Media Room ]
