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<title>MR. PETTOGREW - ADDRESSAT THE CLUB MINERO LUNCHEON- BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA</title>
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<p><font size="+1"></font><font size="+1">Also available in Spanish at the following address: </font><font face="Arial" size="-1"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="-1"><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070222010125/http://webapps.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/documents/min_publications/html/3126297.htm">http://webapps.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/documents/min_publications/html/3126297.htm</a></font><font size="+1"></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong><u>CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY</u></strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>THE HONOURABLE PIERRE PETTIGREW</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>AT THE CLUB MINERO LUNCHEON</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong>BUENOS AIRES, Argentina</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1"><strong>July 27, 2000</strong></font></p>
<p>Mr. President and distinguished members of the Club Minero Argentino.</p>
<p>I am very grateful for your kind invitation to this meeting of distinguished representatives of the
Argentine mining community, and I thank you for the opportunity to speak to you briefly about
mining in Canada and the growing relationship between Canada and Argentina, especially in the
mining sector.</p>
<p>I was pleased to be in Buenos Aires at the beginning of this month, and have also visited Chile
and Uruguay. Soon, I will be travelling to Colombia. My purpose is to meet with senior
government officials and representatives of the private sector to advance our trade interests and
strengthen our bilateral ties. Latin America is an increasingly important trading partner for
Canada, and consolidating our relations with the countries of this region is a priority for us.</p>
<p>I am delighted to be in Argentina once again. Canada and Argentina have many similarities,
affinities and common interests which encourage us to work together so that we can more
successfully meet the new challenges of this increasingly global world.</p>
<p>These similarities have, until now, limited trade between our two countries, which is still far from
its true potential. Nevertheless, our similarities have promoted economic integration in important
sectors, such as agriculture, energy and development of natural resources, in both Canada and
Argentina.</p>
<p>Agrium, a large Canadian fertilizer company, is making a significant contribution to greater crop
yields in Argentina, with 18 farm centres in key agricultural locations.</p>
<p>Agrium has also invested in other related facilities, and in November, will open the world's
largest urea fertilizer plant in Bahía Blanca. This plant will be owned by Profértil, Agrium's joint
venture with Repsol-YPF.</p>
<p>Another leading Canadian firm, McCain, is operating a large plant producing frozen French fries
in Balcarce. The company is very successfully promoting potato production in this region, and is
supplying its products to markets in Argentina and Latin America.</p>
<p>In the energy sector, Canadian companies have made a major contribution to the development of
the oil and gas sector in Argentina. The Canadian nuclear power plant in Embalse has proven to
be a reliable and efficient producer of electricity.</p>
<p>I must also point out the growing participation of Canadian companies in other priority sectors of
the Argentine economy, such as telecommunications and banking.</p>
<p>Now, I want to refer specifically to the mining sector.</p>
<p>Canada has grown to be a leading mining country, a main producer of several key minerals and
the world's largest exporter of mineral products. Our natural resources sector plays a very
important part in Canada's modern economy and contributes significantly toward our GNP.</p>
<p>And we intend to remain the world's most efficient and dependable supplier of natural resource
products, consistent with our policy of sustainable development. We want to ensure that
Canadians of the present and future generations continue to reap the full benefits of our rich
resources heritage.</p>
<p>For this, we need to count on the awareness, consensus and participation of all those concerned in
resource development. This includes the companies, workers, governments at all levels, private
organizations and communities, as well as the Canadian people. </p>
<p>To attain this leading position -- and to further succeed in the knowledge-based and technology-driven new economy of the 21st century -- we are applying continuous innovation, searching for
new and better ways to develop and use the most high-tech, environmentally friendly, socially
responsible, productive and competitive new technologies, processes and systems to discover,
develop, transport, process, use and export the bountiful mineral resources with which my
country is endowed. Our natural resources sector is now a leading user of state-of-the-art
technology.</p>
<p>Having developed highly competitive capabilities and experience, our mining companies and
their suppliers are now active throughout the world, participating in the development of mineral
resources in a large number of countries.</p>
<p>Argentina's recovered political and economic stability -- and enlightened new mining legislation
-- have attracted several Canadian companies that are pursuing the opportunities in the
development of this country's rich mineral potential.</p>
<p>Our exploration companies now outnumber all of other nationalities, our suppliers of equipment
and services are actively participating, and major Canadian mining companies are carrying out
large investments in Argentina. One such example is Rio Algom's 25 percent share in Minera
Alumbrera and Barrick Gold in the billion-dollar Pascua-Lama project. The latter will benefit
from the hopefully soon-to-be-implemented mining integration agreement with Chile. </p>
<p>These and many other smaller Canadian mining projects, applying the best and most responsible
expertise, are becoming increasingly important contributors to the Argentine economy, and
particularly to that of the provinces concerned, with the additional benefits of infrastructure
expansion and social progress.</p>
<p>Canada's official agencies are also assisting Argentina in the implementation of its mining
development objectives; our Department of Natural Resources is participating in different
projects, together with its Argentine counterparts, in Segemar. These include the training of
environmental officials in the provinces and the identification of probable mineral resources in
the Puna area, which extends into parts of Chile, Bolivia and Peru.</p>
<p>We are keen to continue working in close relationship with the mining authorities of Latin
American countries. We have been actively participating with high-level official delegations to
the successive Annual Congresses of Mining Ministries of the Americas. Canada will host the
forthcoming congress to be held this November in Vancouver.</p>
<p>Our Embassy in Buenos Aires has assigned a high priority to promoting relationships between
the Canadian and Argentine mining sectors. In November 1998, the Honourable Ralph Goodale,
our Minister of Natural Resources, established a regional Geomatics office in the Embassy. It is
proving to be most effective in developing the awareness and application of this advanced
technology.</p>
<p>The local response to Canada's mining capabilities and interests has been very encouraging. An
important official delegation from Argentina, together with a large number of private sector
representatives, participated last March in the Mining Millennium 2000 event in Toronto, the
largest and most successful mining meeting and trade show ever held. </p>
<p>Reciprocally, many Canadian mining companies and suppliers of equipment and services for
mining development regularly participate in trade shows in Argentina.</p>
<p>I am proud that Canadians are world leaders in the development and use of innovative
technologies and systems to protect the environment, and mining has made great progress in this
regard. We have attached great importance to ensuring that the development of our mineral
resources does not harm our environment.</p>
<p>I am pleased that we are sharing this knowledge and experience with Argentina through the
activities of Canadian agencies and companies participating in various mining-environment
programs. In November 1996, Canada and Argentina signed a memorandum of understanding on
environmental co-operation that has been put to good use in various areas. Bilateral talks are
going on to renew this agreement and make it more useful.</p>
<p>In closing, let me assure you that Canada is interested in increasing and strengthening its ties with
Argentina and in participating in the development of your very promising mineral resources.</p>
<p>I wish you the greatest success in this enterprise.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
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