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<title> PETTIGREW-LED TRADE MISSION: SNC-LAVALIN SIGNS $600 MILLION MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IN ALGERIA</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong></strong></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>October 16, 2000 <em>( 11:40 a.m. EDT)</em> No. 262</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong> PETTIGREW-LED TRADE MISSION: SNC-LAVALIN SIGNS </strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>$600 MILLION MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IN ALGERIA</strong></font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial">International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew witnessed the signing of memorandums of
understanding and contracts worth over $605 million at a ceremony in Algiers yesterday
evening.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">At the signing ceremony, SNC-Lavalin International Inc. of Montreal, Quebec, inked a
$600 million memorandum of understanding with the Algerian government for a project
to supply the cities along the Tizi-Ouzou/Algiers corridor with drinking water. This project
could create 150 jobs in Canada, most of them in Quebec.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"During President Bouteflika's state visit to Canada last May, it became clear to us that
Algeria's economic development would continue apace, and that Canada could
therefore forge solid economic links with that country," remarked Minister Pettigrew.
"The results have exceeded our expectations."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Upwards of 600 Algerian businesspeople came out to discuss business opportunities
with the Canadian delegation, which included representatives of 80 firms and some 100
delegates -- proof positive of the Algerian business community's unprecedented interest
in doing business with Canadians.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Algerian Prime Minister Ali Benflis, who had already scheduled a bilateral meeting with
Minister Pettigrew, personally attended an information session where he urged Algerian
and Canadian executives to strengthen their business ties.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Moreover, the Banque Algérienne de Développement and Canada's Export
Development Corporation (EDC) agreed in principle to extend existing lines of credit
($100 million) between the African Development Bank and EDC. These have been in
place since 1973 and have been a key feature of Algerian-Canadian trade relations.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">In addition, SONATRACH and EDC will begin negotiations to establish a new direct line
of credit to more actively support trade between the Canadian and Algerian oil
industries. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canada's leading trading partner in Africa and the Middle East, Algeria is our 16th-largest trading partner overall. In 1999, bilateral trade surpassed the billion dollar mark
for the fourth year in a row.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">After visiting Morocco and Algeria, the mission will be in Spain and Portugal from
October 16 to 21.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Firms that signed agreements in Algeria:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• Memorandum of understanding between SNC-Lavalin International Inc. of Montreal,
Quebec, and Algeria's Agence nationale de l'eau potable industrielle et de
l'assainissement [national industrial drinking water and purification agency].</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• Letter of intent for the creation of a joint venture between RSW International Inc. of
Montreal, Quebec, and Algeria's Entreprise nationale des études hydrauliques (ENHYD)
[national corporation for hydraulic studies].</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• Partnership agreements between Neosignal of Lasalle, Quebec and Forem of Algeria,
and between Neosignal and Alpha Design of Algeria.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• Letter of agreement between PanGeo Pharma Inc. of Montreal, Quebec, and
Digromed of Algeria.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• Partnership agreement between Elix Inc. of Montreal, Quebec, and EEPAD of Algeria. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• Memorandum of understanding between Géomat International Inc. of Montreal,
Quebec, and Geocomputer of Algeria.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• Memorandum of understanding between Dessau-Soprin International of Montreal,
Quebec, and Algeria's EPA-ANSA Sidi Abdellah.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• Partnership agreement between Connexions commerciales internationales of </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Verdun, Quebec, and L'Entreprise de promotion immobilière de Bejaia.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• Partnership agreement between Groupe Canam Manac of Ville de Saint-Georges,
Quebec, and Groupe ADF of Terrebonne, Quebec (two Canadian firms), with an eye to
carrying out projects in Algeria.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• Letter of intent for a partnership between the Atelier d'Usinage Tracy of Tracy,
Quebec, and Algeria's Entreprise nationale de charpente et de Chaudronnerie (ENCC)
[national frame and boilermaking corporation].</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">• Sanitary agreement between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Algeria's
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Sylvie Bussières</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister for International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 992-7332</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial">Christopher Hull</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Political Advisor</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canadian Embassy, Algiers</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Telephone: (213.2) 91.49.51</font></p>
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