No. H059/10
For release - May 21, 2010
Photo(s)
OTTAWA — Today the Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, concluded his visit to Japan where he advanced the Canada-Japan relationship and promoted the use of Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway to the Japanese government and business community.
“Japan is an important partner for Canada and is currently the second-largest user of the Asia-Pacific Gateway. In 2009, trade imports from Japan, valued at nearly $3 billion, passed through our West Coast ports,” said Minister Day. “Our government wants this relationship to continue to grow. My visit was a great opportunity to promote Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway as the most competitive route to ship Japanese goods deep into the heartland of all of North America.”
During his visit, Minister Day met with Seiji Maehara, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Yukio Edano, Minister of State for Government Revitalization, and Yoshihiko Noda, Senior Vice-Minister of Finance. They discussed current investments and progress with key Asia-Pacific Gateway projects such as the recent opening of the third berth at Deltaport in Vancouver, as well as government accountability and financial management.
Minister Day also met with key stakeholders and current users of the Gateway, such as international shipping lines Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha.
“The recent investments our government made under Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway have paid off and helped attract more business. The feedback I received from the Japanese shippers was extremely positive. They enjoy doing business in Canada, and I assured them that we will continue to be an engaged partner as we continue to find innovative ways to make Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway even more efficient,” added Minister Day.
Minister Day ended his visit by delivering a speech at a business networking luncheon where he promoted Canada’s unique position to attract business with Japan, as well as underlined Canada’s strong financial standing among G-7 countries.
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