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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold">March 8, 2005<br>
No. A/27</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-weight: bold">MINISTER PETERSON TO LEAD TRADE MISSION TO INDIA</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">International Trade Minister Jim Peterson will lead a trade mission to Mumbai (formerly
Bombay) and New Delhi, India, from April 3 to 7, 2005. This mission will bring together
Canadian and Indian business people to strengthen Canadian trade and investment
ties with this emerging market. The mission will also focus on fostering science and
technology collaborations. Following the trade mission, Minister Peterson will travel to
Chennai to officially open the new Canadian Consulate.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">India is the world’s 12th largest economy and Canada’s largest trading partner in
South Asia. In 2004, Canadian merchandise exports to India totalled more than
$875 million, while imports from India reached over $1.5 billion. Canada also has
significant investments in India: Canadian foreign direct investment stood at
$184 million in 2003. A nation with tremendous purchasing power, India is the world’s
second most populous country and has a rapidly expanding middle class.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">This trade mission will focus on the following sectors: agriculture; financial services; and
infrastructure, specifically in the areas of energy, information and communications
technology, and transportation.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Media representatives who wish to participate in the trade mission can register by
contacting Véronique Duhamel by telephone at (613) 944-1227 or by e-mail at
</span></span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070222014008/mailto:veronique.duhamel@international.gc.ca"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">veronique.duhamel@international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">.</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">For more information, please contact:</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000">Jacqueline LaRocque<br>
Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade<br>
(613) 992-7332</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><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/20070222014008/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></span></p>
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