Minister Carr in Toronto to highlight opportunities worldwide for Canadian businesses to grow, create jobs
News release
June 26, 2019 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
Canada’s trade ties with countries around the world help Canadian businesses reach new customers, attract international investment, strengthen Canada’s economy and create good middle-class jobs. Canada’s trade diversification strategy benefits from the deep people-to-people ties that have been building bridges of commerce and community across the world.
Today, the Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification, participated in events in Toronto to highlight the positive impact of Canada’s new trade agreements. He spoke at the Canada-India Business Council (C-IBC) Toronto Partnership Summit championing the work of the C-IBC to promote mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities between Canada and India.
Minister Carr also visited the Canada Goose facility, a global sector leader which has experienced tremendous international global growth. Canada Goose has used the Trade Commissioner Service to grow and expand internationally, and the federal government is investing $290 million in TCS to help Canadian businesses export and grow, and tap new markets. Canada Goose currently employs more than 3,900 people worldwide—the vast majority of these in Canada.
Minister Carr also met with members from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and the local business community to promote the modernized Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA), which Canada recently ratified.
The Minister participated in a panel discussion with Galit Baram, Consul General of Israel, in Toronto where they talked about the benefits of the modernized CIFTA and the significance of the Canada-Israel trade relationship. The panel also highlighted how Canadian businesses are succeeding in the Israeli market, including through their use of the TCS as a tool to help them navigate that country’s business environment and opportunities for Canadian-Israeli partnerships in the growing fields of science, technology and innovation.
Quotes
“The business community in Toronto is well-connected, diverse and flexible, with excellent access to international markets. Helping companies to compete and succeed in international markets is vital to the Canadian economy. By pursuing trade diversification and continuing to invest in local communities, we continue to promote Canada as a place of business that is open to the world.”
- Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification
“In the global marketplace, being Canadian is a strong signal of being innovative, trustworthy, stable and multi-cultural, and that is unconventional for a country, which gives us an opportunity to chart our own course. I am so proud of Canada Goose’s role in exporting the brand of Canada around the world, and I am fortunate to have an intimate perspective on what an advantage being Canadian can be on a global business stage.”
- Dani Reiss, CEO, Canada Goose
“Diversifying our international markets is an increasingly important Canadian objective, and, India should feature prominently in our efforts to pursue opportunities that exist in that market. We are very pleased with Minister Carr’s reaffirmation of this commitment and we look forward to deepening the business engagement between the two countries. The interest in Canada from Indian companies over the last many months is a welcome development and we will play our part in positioning Canada’s distinctive strengths.”
- Kasi Rao, President&CEO, Canada-India Business Council
“The renewal and expansion of the free trade agreement opens doors to new opportunities in the innovation, science and technology sectors for Canadians and Israelis alike. With bilateral trade between Canada and Israel passing the $1.7 billion mark in 2017, the new accord will boost both countries’ competitive edge in the global market, create new jobs, and enhance the quality of life for Canadians and Israelis. We are pleased with the modernized CIFTA and we congratulate all who worked diligently to secure its ratification.”
- Jeffrey Rosenthal, Co-Chair, Board of Directors, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
“The bilateral relations between Canada and Israel are based on an intricate network of diplomatic ties, trade, and academic and cultural exchange. The updated Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement will bring our two friendly countries—allies and partners—even closer together.”
- Galit Baram, Consul General, Consulate General of Israel in Toronto
Quick facts
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Through its trade diversification strategy, the government will invest $1.1 billion over six years to help Canadian businesses grow and diversify their exports.
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The 2018 Fall Economic Statement invested $100 million over six years to reinforce the CanExport program and related funding programs so that more Canadian businesses can explore new overseas markets, especially in high-growth emerging markets such as India and Israel, and markets benefiting from free trade agreements such as the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
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To date, the CanExport program has supported more than 1,200 Canadian SMEs with 1,600 projects to expand their markets and increase export activities in more than 110 markets around the world.
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Since the original CIFTA entered into force in 1997, two-way merchandise trade between both countries has more than tripled, totaling $1.9 billion in 2018.
Associated links
Contacts
Isabella Brisson-Urdaneta
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Trade Diversification
343-203-7332
Isabella.Brisson-Urdaneta@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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