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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">May 24, 2006 <i>(3:00 p.m. EDT)</i><br>
No. 56</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">MINISTER EMERSON ANNOUNCES $4.7 MILLION TO HELP
CANADIAN BUSINESSES EXPORT</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">International Trade Minister David L. Emerson today announced a record funding
commitment of $4.7 million for 64 national trade associations under the Government of
Canada’s Program for Export Market Development for Associations (PEMD-Associations).</span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">“This is a record funding commitment by Canada’s new government to help more
Canadian businesses access international markets,” said Minister Emerson. “We
believe that our national prosperity hinges on our businesses succeeding in the global
economy, and our trade associations have become a significant resource to help them
succeed.” </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The funding will allow associations to develop international marketing tools, help
Canadian businesses participate in trade fairs and missions overseas, and organize
visits by potential international buyers. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For example, recently one of the 64 trade associations—the Canadian Association of
Mining Equipment and Services for Export (CAMESE)—helped Canadian companies
participate in 12 international trade exhibitions. It is estimated that the companies made
nearly a thousand sales leads at these exhibitions and signed immediate and near-term
contracts of $9.5 million, which may exceed $20 million as business relationships are
developed.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Government of Canada’s 2006-2007 funding to PEMD-Associations is expected to
result in millions of dollars in total increased sales and total prospects for future sales. </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For more information about the Program for Export Market Development for
Associations and for a list of associations funded by the program, visit
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221060952/http://pemd-pdme.infoexport.gc.ca/pemd/tradeassociations/assistNews-en.asp"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://pemd-pdme.infoexport.gc.ca/pemd/tradeassociations/assistNews-en.asp</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">.</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Jennifer Chiu<br>
Press Secretary<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade<br>
(613) 992-7332</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span></span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221060952/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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