MR. MARCHI - ADDRESS AT THE 4TH WORLDCHINESE ENTREPRENEURS' CONVENTION - VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
97/28 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
NOTES FOR AN ADDRESS BY
THE HONOURABLE SERGIO MARCHI
MINISTER FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE
AT THE 4TH WORLD
CHINESE ENTREPRENEURS' CONVENTION
VANCOUVER, British Columbia
August 26, 1997
This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Thank you Raymond. I know that as Secretary of State for Asia Pacific and as a
leader in this community, you must find it very rewarding that Vancouver is
hosting the 4th World Chinese Entrepreneurs' Convention.
I regret that time does not allow me to congratulate all of the people who have
made this event so successful. However, I would like to thank Milton Wong, the
Chairman of the convention, as well as Dr. David C. Lam.
A former lieutenant governor of British Columbia, Dr. Lam commands tremendous
respect in the province. His life is a testament to what Chinese Canadians have
achieved in our society.
I would also like to thank Canada's agency for Western Economic Diversification
for sponsoring today's luncheon and inviting me to speak.
I am very pleased to be here today to welcome you. I hope that your schedule will
permit you to discover the beauty of this spectacular city and of our great
country, and the warmth of our people -- qualities that make us proud to be
Canadian.
As many of you know, our prime minister, Jean Chrétien will also address this
convention in a few days. So you have a pretty good idea of how important the
World Chinese Entrepreneurs' Convention is to Canada.
I am especially proud of how British Columbia's Chinese community has collectively
welcomed you to our country. Vancouver's historic Chinatown district certainly
rolled out the red carpet last night at the first-ever Chinatown Festival. The
bustling market, cultural performances, and parades were a colourful display of
this city's Asian dimension.
As the son of Italian parents, I certainly understand and appreciate very well the
important contribution that immigrants make to our society.
All my life, I have witnessed how the personal and family ties of Canada's 1.5
million Italian-Canadians have built and maintained strong and enduring political,
commercial and cultural ties between Canada and Italy.
We are especially mindful of our connection to Italy this year, as Canada
celebrates the 500th anniversary of the arrival of this first European explorer to
Canada, Giovanni Caboto.
However, as I am sure Raymond would remind me, both our cultures had a hand in
Canada's early beginnings. Caboto came upon this land by accident as he searched
for a new trade route to what was then referred to as "the Orient." In fact, when
Caboto first went ashore in Newfoundland, he thought he was in North East Asia.
In defence of Giovanni Caboto, you could say that rather than making a slight
navigational error, he, in fact, brilliantly predicted a future trend.
New arrivals from Asia have had a significant impact on Canadian society.
Immigration statistics tell the story. In the 1950s, 80 per cent of all immigrants
were from Europe. Today, more than 60 per cent of immigrants are from Asia.
Chinese is now Canada's third most spoken language after French and English --
followed closely by Italian I might add.
This trend has not only enriched Canadian society, but has created strong bonds
across both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This year, which is Canada's Year of
Asia Pacific, we are celebrating our Pacific identity and putting special emphasis
on strengthening our ties to the region.
We recognize that the language skills, family ties and cultural knowledge of our
two million Asian Canadians are valuable economic assets. In fact, we should, and
will, harness this tremendous competitive advantage much more than we have.
I understand that site visits later this week will take convention delegates to
Surrey and Richmond. You will see in these communities a shining example of how
Asian Canadians have injected their entrepreneurial spirit into Canada's economy.
The simple truth is that, for many, Canada remains an undiscovered country. But I
know that if you travel this country and consider Canada's advantages, you will be
impressed.
The first bond of Canadian nationhood was a transcontinental railway built across
this huge and rugged country in the 19th century.
To remain competitive, Canadians have had to continually find new and better ways
to move goods quickly, cheaply and safely in all kinds of weather. Today, we
produce the most automated light-rail and subway vehicles available. Canadians
specialize in flight simulation, air traffic control, diagnostics and pilot
training.
In 1857, the world's first oil well was drilled in the Canadian community of Oil
Springs, Ontario. Today, Canadians have designed, built, and now operate a huge
network of pipelines -- including the world's longest petroleum pipeline and a
natural gas pipeline that supplies 45 per cent of North America's natural gas
needs.
Our communications networks are unsurpassed in their capacity to move and process
information. One need only look at a map to see how we have had to overcome
challenging geography and climatic extremes.
Our systems now provide a wider array of services to a broader band of customers
than is available in any other country in the world. Virtually every home in
Canada is connected.
This should come as no surprise when you consider that Canadians have been setting
the pace in these industries for more than a century. The very first telephone
call was placed in Canada by our own Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the
telephone.
Canada's telecommunications breakthroughs have coincided with advances in
information technologies, ranging from software to digitalized animation.
I know that Asia's rapid economic development and increasing urbanization have
placed high demands on air, land and water resources. Many Canadian companies are
already participating in joint ventures with Asian firms to transfer environmental
technologies.
In food production and processing, Canadian firms span the market from breeding
stock and cooking oils to smoked salmon. One local company, Pacific Western
Brewing, based in Chilliwack, produces Japan's third most popular beer, behind
only Budweiser and Heineken. And if you haven't yet, I encourage you to sample our
ice wine, which has helped make Canada as famous in Asia as it has in Paris.
Our government has worked hard to create the right conditions for the private
sector to prosper and create jobs. Just four short years ago, the country was in
economic decline, its public finances seriously weakened. Increasing amounts of
our wealth were going towards paying off debts to foreign lenders. Our $42 billion
deficit was pushing interest rates up and killing jobs.
Our government has consistently met or bettered our deficit reduction targets. We
have restored confidence in Canada and recaptured our economic sovereignty. By
1998-99, our deficit will be less than $9 billion and we will have achieved this
remarkable result through reduced spending -- not tax increases.
Controlling government deficits has helped to control inflation and that has
improved our competitiveness. Domestic unit labour costs have risen less than 4
per cent since 1990, compared to a 16 per cent increase in the United States.
Increased competitiveness is also boosting our trade performance. In 1996,
Canada's merchandise trade balance hit a record surplus of $34 billion.
The World Economic Forum ranks Canada fourth in the world for international
competitiveness -- up from eighth last year -- and the Economist Magazine's
Intelligence Unit ranked Canada fifth in the world as a "business-friendly"
environment.
As well, the International Monetary Fund expects the Canadian economy to lead all
G-7 nations in economic growth in 1997 and 1998.
And something we are very proud of is that for the last four years, the United
Nations has ranked Canada's quality of life the best in the world.
As international investors, you will also appreciate that Canada also offers
access to the world's richest market -- the United States. Canadian-based
businesses have tariff-free access to the U.S. and Mexican markets through the
North American Free Trade Agreement. This represents unequalled access to a market
of 386 million people.
These factors combine to make Canada an excellent place to do business. Take the
example of Glenayre Technologies, a worldwide provider of telecommunications
equipment and software. The company was founded in Vancouver but sold its
manufacturing business and corporate name to a U.S firm based in the United
States.
Ninety-five per cent of what Glenayre produces in Canada is exported, with almost
one third going to Asia Pacific alone. Their sales have increased from $93 million
in 1991 to $390 million in 1996. Today, more than half the world's pagers are
activated by Glenayre equipment.
Canada's pool of highly skilled workers has proved an asset in helping them manage
this phenomenal growth: since 1994, Glenayre has hired more than 400 new employees
at its Vancouver office, bringing their total staff to 900.
To maintain their success in operating from Canada, Glenayre will break ground in
September on a new $25 million office and manufacturing complex that will also
house the corporation's main research and development centre.
I encourage you to stop by and see representatives of my department at their
information booth here at the convention to find out more about investing and
doing business in Canada. I also invite you to witness a demonstration of "live
interactive multimedia by satellite" presented by Canada's Communications Research
Centre.
With our small population spread over a vast geographical distance, we have become
world leaders in sophisticated and efficient infrastructure. Canadian companies
across the country are linked by rail, truck, marine and air services to markets
around the world.
Once again, don't just take my word for it. Take part in the site visits and see
for yourself.
You will tour Vancouver International Airport's new $456 million state-of-the-art
terminal, as well as BC Ferries -- one of the largest, safest and fastest ferry
systems in the world. You will also tour Deltaport, the new container port that
just opened in June.
If you visit the University of British Columbia or Simon Fraser University while
you are here, you will get an idea why Canada also has a well-deserved reputation
for being an attractive place in which to study.
For those of you considering sending your children here, I can assure you that
international students speak glowingly of Canada's safe and clean surroundings,
its high quality of education and the friendly welcome they receive from
Canadians.
Canada markets education as aggressively as possible. That is why we have created
a network of Canadian Education Centres throughout Asia Pacific.
You may be interested to know that by 1995, Hong Kong and China together sent 5000
students to study in Canadian universities.
We recognize that our international students will be the next generation of
political and business leaders. Studying in Canada means enhanced understanding
between peoples and countries -- culturally, politically and economically.
International students help create important and modern bridges between our
countries.
Finally, I would like to encourage everyone to participate in the Toronto
itinerary of the World Chinese Entrepreneurs' Convention that will take place
later this week.
As a matter of fact, I want to warn you that our Chinese-Canadian communities have
become a matter of civic pride in Canada. So, tread lightly around this subject.
Last year, during a Committee meeting in the Canadian Senate on Canada's Year of
Asia Pacific, a somewhat vigorous debate arose between a Senator from British
Columbia and a Senator from Ontario over which city -- Vancouver or Toronto -- had
the largest Chinese population. John Bell, the Ambassador for Canada's Year of
Asia Pacific, had to referee the dispute and check the numbers.
It turns out that Toronto has the larger Chinese population in absolute numbers.
Vancouver, on the other hand, may have a smaller number of Chinese people, but
they make up a larger percentage of the city's total population. You will be
relieved to know that this answer satisfied everyone and peace was quickly
restored.
Have a great convention. Thank you.