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<title>PETTIGREW WELCOMES MARK OF CONFIDENCE SHOWN BYBELGIAN AERONAUTICS COMPANY ASCO</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>June 16, 2003</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>PETTIGREW WELCOMES MARK OF CONFIDENCE SHOWN BY</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>BELGIAN AERONAUTICS COMPANY ASCO</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew today witnessed the announcement, at the 45th Paris Air Show at
Le Bourget, of an important investment in the Vancouver area. The leading Belgian aeronautics company
ASCO announced the acquisition of EBCO Aerospace, based in Delta, B.C., which specializes in the machining
and assembly of aircraft components using high strength steels, titanium and aluminum alloys.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"I applaud this decision by ASCO's owners, the Boas family, to make their first acquisition in Canada," said
Minister Pettigrew. "It is a clear mark of confidence in Canada as the ideal access point to the North American
market. The investment is doubly welcome given the difficult period the aerospace industry is experiencing
globally. It confirms that for high-tech industries like this one, Canada is an attractive place to invest." </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">ASCO's primary business is the design, development, manufacturing and treatment of steel, titanium and
aluminum high precision components and the assembly thereof for the aerospace industry. The Belgian
company is a world leader in the design and manufacture of some of these systems.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Before the acquisition, EBCO Aerospace, a company founded in 1987 with support from the Canadian federal
government, was a division of EBCO Industries Ltd. It has been involved in various airplane programs, as well
as in the International Space Station program. The company's major clients are Boeing, Bombardier and
AVCORP.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">EBCO Aerospace will be known from now on under the name ASCO Aerospace Canada Ltd.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Sébastien Théberge</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Director of Communications</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister for International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 992-7332</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123041808/mailto:sebastien.theberge@dfait-maeci.gc.ca"><font face="Arial">sebastien.theberge@dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20071123041808/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/"><font face="Arial">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></font></p>
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