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<title>INTERNATIONAL TRADE MINISTER OFFICIALLY OPENS CANADIAN EDUCATION CENTRE IN MEXICO CITY</title>
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<p><font face="Courier"></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="+3"><strong></strong></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="+4"><strong>Release</strong></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="+3"></font></p>
<p><font face="Univers" size="+2">January 12, 1998 No. 5</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">INTERNATIONAL TRADE MINISTER OFFICIALLY OPENS </font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Univers" size="+2">CANADIAN EDUCATION CENTRE IN MEXICO CITY</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi today officially opened the Canadian
Education Centre (CEC) in Mexico City during his first stop on a five-city Team
Canada trade mission to Latin America.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The CEC in Mexico City is the first to be established in Latin America and the
11th Centre that Canada has opened worldwide. In addition, Canada has opened
three additional Canadian resource and marketing centres outside the CEC Network
in Athens, Abu Dhabi and Caracas.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">"Canadians know that a highly educated and trained work force is one of the most
important resources in making a country competitive," said Minister Marchi.
"Canadian schools have much to offer international students -- high educational
standards, relatively low tuition fees and an attractive environment in which to
study and live."</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The CEC Network was established to help public and private education providers
market their products and services abroad. As subscribers to the Network,
Canadian schools and education companies are promoted at the Centre and at
education fairs held throughout the host country. In Mexico, this includes
education fairs such as EDUCANADA '98, organized by the CEC Network, which is
being held in Monterrey, Mexico City and Guadalajara later this month.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The CEC Network began operating in Mexico City in April 1997. Since then, it has
attracted 141 Canadian education institutions as subscribers -- the third-largest
in the Network, including 11 Francophone educational institutions.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">The CEC Network is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Asia Pacific Foundation of
Canada, with Centres in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur,
Thailand, India, Singapore, Australia and China. The Network generates revenue
through subscription sales to Canadian education institutions. Building on the
success of the network of CECs in Asia Pacific and Mexico, Canada plans to open
up to 15 new education marketing centres by the year 2000.</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Leslie Swartman</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Office of the Minister for International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 992-7332</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><font face="Courier">This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</font></p>
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