Montréal, June 12, 2014 – The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal welcomes the tabling of the Text of Final Agreement for the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement today in the House of Commons by the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister for International Trade. This takes us one step closer to ratifying Canada’s first free trade agreement in Asia.
“This is excellent news for Montréal businesses,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “This agreement will increase their competitiveness in South Korea, the fourth largest economy in the Asia Pacific. Businesses need to seize this opportunity to strengthen their presence in Asia, just like American and European businesses, which already enjoy preferential access to this market. This agreement will also smooth the integration of our businesses to the chaebols, South Korea’s major industrial groups.”
“The Board of Trade’s team of international trade experts, the World Trade Centre Montréal, will continue to support businesses in preparing for the agreement’s entry into force,” Michel Leblanc said. “Awareness and training activities are planned, as are trade missions, to help small and medium-sized businesses increase their capacity for growth on such promising markets. Our experts will also organize activities about business opportunities related to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang to allow local businesses to take full advantage of the spinoffs of this event.”
About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is made up of some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity, and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.
About the World Trade Centre Montréal
With the help of its World Trade Montréal experts, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal offers international trade services to the extended business community, with the support of Canada Economic Development.
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Source:
Michelle LLambias Meunier
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4042
mllambias@ccmm.qc.ca
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