Canada Focused on Creating Jobs and Delivering Free Trade with European Union

2010-12-11

Canadian Minister of International Trade, today concluded a five-day trade mission to Turkey and Greece. The trade mission focused on expanding commercial relations and promoting free trade with the European Union.

Minister Van Loan said that the aim of Canadian government to open new markets and create jobs. He emphasized that “My visit focused on strengthening Canada’s commercial ties to Turkey—a strategic gateway to Europe and Asia—and on promoting deeper trade ties with Greece through a Canada-European Union trade agreement.”

On the trip to Turkey and Greece, Minister Van Loan was accompanied by a Canadian business delegation on behalf of the aerospace, agri-food, defence, clean energy, environment, and information and communications technologies sectors.

Catharine Devlin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Devlin Web Corporation, a Canadian, award-winning digital communications agency, indicated that they would be signing two new business agreements in online retailing, and one joint venture in mobile application development.

Mark James is Director of International Sales, Free Breeze Energy Systems Ltd., a leading Canadian wind energy provider. He contented this trade mission and believed that Free Breeze had an unparalleled opportunity to pursue potential business partnerships, make contacts and open doors in the Turkish market. Free Breeze opened a new office in Istanbul during the trade mission.

In Turkey, Minister Van Loan also opened the new Canadian Consulate in Istanbul and participated in the opening of a Centennial College recruitment office.

In Greece, Minister Van Loan promoted bilateral trade and investment relations between the two countries. He announced the implementation of the Double Taxation Agreement with Greece, to effect on January 1, 2011, and promoted the Canada-European Union trade agreement as the key driver of closer commercial ties.

Minister Van Loan said that “The European Union is Canada’s second-largest trading partner. A trade agreement would boost Canada’s economy by up to $12 billion annually and move Canada and EU countries further on the path to economic recovery.”