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<title>ONTARIO AND ALBERTA OPEN TRADE OFFICES AT THE CANADIAN CONSULATE IN MUNICH</title>
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<p><font size="+1"><strong></strong></font><font size="+1"><strong>February 20, 2002 (<em>4:00 p.m. EST</em>) No. 18</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>ONTARIO AND ALBERTA OPEN TRADE OFFICES</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1"><strong>AT THE CANADIAN CONSULATE IN MUNICH</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="+1">As part of the Team Canada 2002 trade mission to Germany, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, Ontario
Premier Mike Harris and Alberta Premier Ralph Klein today announced the opening of provincial
marketing centres within the Canadian consulate in Munich, Germany. They were joined by International
Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew.</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">"Initiatives such as this are a fine example of the Team Canada approach to branding Canada as a business
partner of choice in the global economy of the 21st century," said the Prime Minister. "Our government's
record of balanced budgets, lower corporate and personal income taxes, falling public debt and strategic
economic investments is a highlight of the great Canadian success story that we are aggressively
promoting around the world. I am pleased that this new arrangement will permit us to coordinate our
efforts in Germany more closely with Ontario and Alberta."</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">"This marketing centre is a resource for Ontario business people who want to get into the German market
and for Germans who want to know more about doing business in Ontario," Harris said. "Alberta and
Ontario led the drive toward tax competitiveness and are leaders in creating a positive climate for jobs and
investment. Today's announcements are yet another of our initiatives to help Canadian businesses
succeed."</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">"This is Alberta's first new trade office in Europe," said Klein, "which is reflective of Alberta's strong
business ties to Germany. It will also be a gateway to the larger European market and an important step in
ensuring that Alberta and Ontario remain globally competitive in trade and investment."</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">The offices opened today will be the eighth for Alberta and the first of five for Ontario.</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">Germany is a key investment partner for Canada with $10 billion invested between the two countries. It is
also one of Canada's most important European markets in several sectors, including aerospace,
automotive, financial, pharmaceutical services and cultural products. Bilateral trade between Canada and
Germany totalled nearly </font></p>
<p><font size="+1">$11 billion in 2000, making Germany Canada's sixth-largest trading partner.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font size="+1">- 30 - </font></p>
<p><font size="+1">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221123748/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/"><font size="+1">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></font></p>
<p><font size="+1">Ontario Premier's Media Office</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">(416) 325-7600</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">Mark Erdman</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">Director, Communications</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">Alberta Economic Development</font></p>
<p><font size="+1">(780) 427-0528</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221123748/http://www.gov.ab.ca/"><font size="+1">http://www.gov.ab.ca</a></font></p>
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