December 9, 1998 (10:20 a.m. EST) No. 289

CANADA APPOINTS CHAIR OF

THE AMERICAS BUSINESS FORUM

International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi today announced the Government of Canada's appointment of C. Kent Jespersen as Chair of the Americas Business Forum.

"Mr. Jespersen is a prominent figure in both the North and South American business communities," said Mr. Marchi. "His years of experience will be a great contribution to the Americas Business Forum and its work toward achieving a Free Trade Area of the Americas."

The purpose of the Americas Business Forum is to co-ordinate input from private sector representatives from all countries involved in the Free Trade Areas of the Americas (FTAA) negotiations. This input is then fed into the FTAA negotiation process. As chair of the first phase of the FTAA negotiations, Canada is charged with leading the negotiating process until October, 1999.

"Canada is pleased to be chair of the FTAA negotiations. We consider this part of our commitment to achieving more transparent and more open trade regimes in the hemisphere as well as part of our ongoing commitment to Canadian exporters and investors," added the Minister.

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 34 countries of the hemisphere by the year 2005. The next FTAA ministerial meeting will take place in Toronto on November 1 and 2, 1999, following a meeting of the Americas Business Forum on October 30 and 31, 1999.

Mr. Jespersen is currently Chairman of La Jolla Resources International Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta. He gained extensive business experience in the Americas during the twenty-two years he worked as a senior executive of Nova Corporation. His practical experience, particularly leading Nova's major investments in natural gas

pipelines in Latin America, provides him with a broad knowledge of issues affecting the private sector and relevant to the FTAA.

Mr. Jespersen is also the first Canadian to chair the Board of the Institute of the Americas located in La Jolla, California. The Institute is an organization devoted to promoting better relations between North America and Latin America. Mr. Jespersen is also chairman of the C.D. Howe Institute.

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Leslie Swartman

Office of the Minister for International Trade

(613) 992-7332

Kent Jespersen

La Jolla Resources International, Ltd.

(403) 262-4300

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca