July 5, 2001 (9:40 a.m. EDT) No. 95

YOUNG CANADIAN ENTREPRENEURS TO PARTICIPATE IN

APEC YOUTH FORUM IN SHANGHAI

Young entrepreneurs from across Canada will travel to China to participate in the first Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs Forum. The Forum is designed to involve the next generation of business leaders in issues important to APEC member economies.

"With global exchanges increasing and new opportunities emerging rapidly, we must secure a sustainable future for generations to come by encouraging tomorrow's business leaders to participate," said International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew. "I believe that young entrepreneurs contribute energy and innovation, which will help strengthen the development of APEC member economies."

The Forum, to be held in Beijing and Shanghai from July 9 to 14, is a joint Canada and China initiative organized by the Beijing-based All-China Youth Federation and the Toronto-based Institute for Leadership Development. Delegations of young business people from the 21 APEC member nations will gather to exchange ideas and business perspectives.

"APEC leaders have emphasized that the revolution in information and communication technology creates unprecedented opportunities for new forms of markets, higher levels of productivity and new demands for knowledge, entrepreneurship and innovation," said Minister of National Revenue Martin Cauchon, who will lead the Canadian delegation at the Forum. "I congratulate the young Canadians who have been selected to attend and I look forward to working with them."

The themes of the event are information and communications technologies in business, and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. The Forum will build critical leadership skills and create partnerships among participants from the APEC countries, and increase the understanding of technological linkages between economic, business and policy issues.

Forum delegates will hear keynote addresses by leading Canadian, Chinese and other Asia-Pacific new economy representatives; attend presentations by each APEC member on challenges and opportunities for youth; and participate in roundtable workshops on information and communications technology in business and on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. Participants will also visit relevant firms in the Shanghai area, and they will have the opportunity to promote their work on-line in a Virtual Trade Show taking place before and during the Forum.

For notes on the participants please visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Web site at: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/trade/canada-apec/cdnApec/Beijing_forum-e.asp. For more information on the APEC Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs Forum visit http://www.apecforum.org

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For further information, media representatives may contact:

Sébastien Théberge

Office of the Minister for International Trade

(613) 992-7332

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

Office of the Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

(613) 995-2960

This document is also available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade's Internet site:

http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca