(OTTAWA) October 19, 2007 Export Development Canada (EDC) held its first Annual Public Meeting yesterday attracting 83 participants from Canadian companies, government, business associations, non-governmental organizations, academia and the public at large.
"The purpose of this Annual Public Meeting is to give members of the public and our stakeholders a chance to learn more about EDC, to hear from our leadership team on EDC's activities, results and plans, and to ask questions and give us feedback on EDC's performance and plans," said EDC's Chair of the Board of Directors Jim Dinning. EDC President and CEO Eric Siegel focused on EDC's role and evolution in helping customers compete globally in an increasingly integrated global trade environment, where direct investment abroad has become as integral to their business strategies as export sales. "EDC is working with thousands of Canadian companies of all sizes, in increasingly diverse markets. Fully one quarter of our business is now in emerging markets," said Siegel.
Siegel encouraged the audience to participate in the Government of Canada's legislative review of EDC, coming up in 2008. This is an independent review of EDC's mandate and operational effectiveness, required under the Export Development Act. "Our last legislative review was concluded in 2001, and the changes of even the past six years have been greater in some ways than the changes over the previous 20. This is an excellent opportunity to help the Government respond to those changes through the review of EDC's mandate and operations."
Kevin O'Brien, EDC's Senior Vice-President of the Financing Products Group and Pierre Gignac, EDC's Senior Vice-President of Insurance reported on the results of EDC's core businesses. They were followed by Peter Allen, EDC's Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, who reviewed EDC's overall growth and financial position.
Stephen Poloz, Senior Vice-President, Corporate Affairs, and Chief Economist, provided an outlook for EDC in 2008 and beyond in the face of changing needs of Canada's exporters and investors in the new integrated trade environment.
EDC is Canada's export credit agency, offering innovative commercial solutions to help Canadian exporters and investors expand their international business. EDC's knowledge and partnerships are used by 6,400 Canadian companies and their global customers in up to 200 markets worldwide each year. EDC is financially self-sustaining and is a recognized leader in financial reporting, economic analysis and has been named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for seven consecutive years.
-30-
Media contact:
Phil Taylor Public Affairs Export Development Canada (613) 598-2904 ptaylor@edc.ca
