September 13, 2000 (1:45 p.m. EDT) No. 230

PETTIGREW ANNOUNCES DEALS WORTH $7.7 MILLION IN

CZECH REPUBLIC

Canadian business representatives signed $7.7 million in deals today in the Czech Republic -- the third stop of a trade mission to Central Europe led by International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew.

"The contracts signed today are fine examples of the many opportunities for Canadian businesses in the Czech Republic," said Mr. Pettigrew. "I am very pleased with the business links and other partnerships we are forming here this week."

Many of the 55 business delegates on the mission said that they expect to sign more contracts in the near future as a result of the trade mission.

The contracts signed today include a $5-million, five-year deal by Lambton Pultrusion Inc., of Camlachie, Ontario, to provide a Czech company with the technology for the manufacturing of structural fibreglass products. Lambton president Alexander Topol, is from the former Czechoslovakia, but fled the country's communist rule in 1969, emigrating to Canada. In 1997 he returned to Prague for the first time, intent on doing business from Canada with his native land to contribute to the development of the Czech Republic's new market economy.

Distributions Gypco Inc., of Anjou, Quebec, signed a $2.2 million contract today with a Czech construction company to add 150 housing units to a social housing complex in the municipality of Pibor. Gypco, an exporter of construction materials, plans to sign two other contracts later this week -- one for $4.4 million, and the other for $7.4 million. BIOVIT impex co., of Kanata, Ontario, signed a $500 000 contract with a distributor of medical supplies in the Czech Republic to sell natural health products.

The Canada-Czech Republic Chamber of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a project to place Czech junior managers with Canadian companies for three-month internships.

Trade mission delegates also heard from Otto Jelinek -- former Canadian Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament for Oakville-Milton, Ontario -- now with the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche. Mr. Jelinek, who is of Czech descent, gave a talk on "Doing Business in the Czech Republic from a Canadian Perspective."

Minister Pettigrew met with Milada Vlasakova, Czech Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade for Restructuring and Property Administration. He is scheduled to meet tomorrow with Czech Deputy Prime Minister of Finance Pavel Mertlik and Miroslav Gregr, Minister of Trade and Industry.

The September 10 to15 trade mission began in Budapest, Hungary, then continued in Bratislava, Slovak Republic -- where several other contracts and agreements were signed -- prior to the stop in Prague. The trade mission will continue in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

For more information about the mission, visit the Team Canada Web site at

http://www.tcm-mec.gc.ca

.

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A backgrounder is attached.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Sylvie Bussières

Office of the Minister for International Trade

(613) 992-7332

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

BACKGROUNDER

BIOVIT impex co.

BIOVIT impex co., of Kanata, Ontario, signed a $500 000 contract with Phoenix Ltd. Phoenix, a distributor of medical supplies in the Czech Republic, is buying natural herbal remedy products manufactured by Swiss Natural Sources in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The contract is renewable after one year.

Canada-Czech Republic Chamber of Commerce

The Canada-Czech Republic Chamber of Commerce is signing a memorandum of understanding with CKD Kutna Hora Ltd. and the Brno University of Technology to co-operate on a new business internship program. The "BIP Project" will involve placing Czech junior managers with Canadian companies for three-month internships. The program will give participants the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge to practical business applications. It will help better acquaint Czechs with North-American business practices.

Lambton Pultrusion Inc.

Lambton Pultrusion Inc., of Camlachie, (Lambton County) Ontario, is signing its first contract with a Czech company, P+T spolenost s r.o., to provide technology for the manufacturing of structural fiberglass products. The five-year contract is valued at about $5 million.

The company President, Alexander Topol, is from the former Czechoslovakia. He fled from the country's communist rule in 1969 and has been in Canada for the past 31 years. In 1997, Mr. Topol returned to Prague for the first time. He was intent on doing business from Canada with his homeland, as his way of contributing to the development of the Czech Republic's new market economy. Mr. Topol has succeeded, with the contract signed today, 52 meetings with Czech companies lined up for the next week and the possibility of at least two other contracts.

"I am very grateful to the Canadian government for putting together this trade mission and helping us to meet with Czech business representatives," said Mr. Topol.

The company is also conducting a joint research project with the National Research Council on infrastructure development related to both Canadian and Czech needs.

Distributions Gypco Inc.

Distributions Gypco Inc., of Anjou, Quebec, is signing a $2.2 million contract today with the Czech company eské a slovenské spalovny. Through their partnership the companies will add 150 housing units to a social housing complex in the municipality of Pibor. Gypco is an international exporter of construction materials. The company will now export its technology to the Czech Republic by sending personnel from Canada to show Czech builders, who are accustomed to using cement, how to work with Gypco products, including metal stud insulators and concrete panels. These products are more durable than traditional cement, which tends to crack after a few years.

Gypco also plans to sign two other similar contracts with eské a slovenské spalovny on Friday and Saturday. One contract will involve $4.4 million to build some 300 housing units and the other will involve at least $7.4 million to build more than 500 housing units -- both in the municipality of Ostrava.