July 16, 1999 (12:30 p.m. EDT) No. 160

MARC LALONDE TO CHAIR

THE AMERICAS BUSINESS FORUM

International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi today announced the appointment of Marc Lalonde, a former Canadian Finance Minister and a current international trade expert and lawyer, as Chair of the fifth Americas Business Forum (ABF).

"Marc Lalonde is a prominent member of Canada's business and legal communities. He possesses in-depth knowledge of the challenges that the private sector faces in our rapidly globalizing world," said Minister Marchi.

Business leaders from all parts of the Hemisphere will attend ABF Canada from November 1 to 3, 1999. The Toronto event is the primary mechanism for private sector input to FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) negotiations at the ministerial level.

During the Summit of the Americas in Miami in December 1994, leaders stated that the common goal was to reach a single, comprehensive free trade agreement among the 34 countries of the Hemisphere by the year 2005. Canada has chaired the first phase of the FTAA negotiation process. At the next FTAA ministerial meeting, to take place in Toronto on November 3 and 4, 1999, immediately following the ABF, the chair will be passed to Argentina.

Marc Lalonde is a partner and internationally acknowledged expert in dispute resolution at the law firm of Stikeman, Elliott in Montreal. His practice focusses primarily on the areas of foreign investment, international commercial arbitration, and legal and administrative reforms of economies in transition to a market economy. He served in senior positions in the Canadian federal government, including as Minister of Finance, Minister of Justice, Minister of Health and Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Leslie Swartman Media Relations Office

Office of the Minister for International Trade Department of Foreign Affairs and

(613) 992-7332 International Trade

(613) 995-1874