October 10, 2005
No. A/100
International Trade Minister Jim Peterson will visit Moscow, Russia, from October 11 to
13, 2005, and Kyiv, Ukraine, from October 13 to 15, 2005. The purpose of the visits is
to emphasize Canada’s desire to strengthen trade with the two countries and to support
their continuing economic development. Russia and Ukraine both have tremendous
economic potential. Minister Peterson will discuss ways of strengthening commercial
ties and improving the business and investment environment for Canadian companies
active in the region.
Russia
Canada-Russia bilateral trade has almost tripled over the past two years, with Canadian
exports poised to exceed $600 million this year and bilateral trade expected to surpass
$2 billion. Exports to Russia grew by 24 percent in 2004 and shot up an additional
47 percent in the first seven months of 2005, with most gains in machinery and food
products.
Imports from Russia grew by 72 percent in 2004—growth mostly attributable to rising
imports of crude oil, which grew from $23 million in 2002 to $865 million last year.
In Moscow, Minister Peterson will participate in the inaugural meeting of the
Canada-Russia Business Council, fulfilling a commitment to create the Council made
exactly one year earlier by Prime Minister Paul Martin when he met with Russian
President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Minister Peterson will also meet with two Russian ministers: Aleksey Gordeyev, Minister
of Agriculture; and German Gref, Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Issues
to be discussed include legal transparency in foreign business and investment in
Russia, market access for Canadian goods and services, as well as Russia’s progress
toward accession to the World Trade Organization.
Similar climate, natural resources, agricultural land and geography make Canada and
Russia complementary partners in a number of key sectors. These include energy,
mining and metallurgy, transportation, and information and communications technology.
Event:
Media availability - Minister Peterson with members of the Canada-Russia
Business Council
Date:
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Time:
9:15 a.m.
Location:
Culoir Gjeli Room
President Hotel
24 Bolshaya Yakimanka Ulitsa
Moscow, Russia
Event:
Opening ceremony of the Canada-Russia Business Council
(speeches and photo opportunity)
Date:
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Location:
Red Room
President Hotel
Event:
Media availability following bilateral meeting between Minister Peterson
and German Gref, Russian Minister of Economic Development and Trade
Date:
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Time:
4:30 p.m.
Location:
Room TBC
Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
Tverskaya Yamskaya (Main Entrance)
Moscow
Event:
Opening remarks at the Canada-Russia Business Council reception
Date:
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Time:
7:00 p.m.
Location:
Atrium, 3rd Floor
Kempinski Hotel
1 Ulitsa Balchug
Moscow
Ukraine
Bilateral trade with Ukraine was $218 million in 2004. Total Canadian exports to
Ukraine were $57 million in 2004, up 83 percent since 2002. Exports from January to
July of this year are up an additional 23 percent. Canada’s primary exports to Ukraine
include agricultural machinery, vehicles, textiles, pharmaceuticals and seafood.
Minister Peterson’s visit to Ukraine will be the first of a Canadian minister since the
Orange Revolution in 2004 led to a new reformist government under Viktor
Yushchenko. Canada sent approximately 1,000 election observers to oversee the
Ukrainian presidential elections in 2004. A strong sense of goodwill ties Canada and
Ukraine. More than one million Canadians have family roots in Ukraine.
In Kyiv, Minister Peterson will meet with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yury Yekhanurov as
well as Economy Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and Foreign Affairs Minister
Borys Tarasyuk.
Minister Peterson will also participate in a meeting of the Canadian Business Club. He
will be available to answer questions from the media following this meeting.
There is significant market potential for Canadian goods and services in the sectors of
agriculture, oil and gas, construction, and information and communications. Canada’s
large Ukrainian-Canadian community continues to play a significant role in trade with
Ukraine.
Event:
Meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yury Yekhanurov
(photo opportunity)
Date:
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Time:
3:00 p.m.
Location:
4th Floor
Cabinet Ministers of Ukraine
12/2 Hrushevskoho Street
Kyiv, Ukraine
Event:
Minister Peterson participates in meeting of Canadian Business Club
(photo opportunity)
Date:
Friday, October 14, 2005
Time:
9:00 a.m.
Location:
Conference Room, Ground Floor
Hotel Radisson SAS
22 Yaroslaviv Val Street
Kyiv
Event:
Media availability - Minister Peterson with members of the Canadian
Business Club
Date:
Friday, October 14, 2005
Time:
10:00 a.m.
Location:
(Room TBC)
Hotel Radisson SAS
Kyiv
For more information, please contact:
Jacqueline LaRocque
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
International Trade Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
