Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture) Jean-Pierre Blackburn returned from Germany confident that the Canadian agri-food industry will enjoy strong success at the ANUGA trade show held in Cologne, Germany. The expected outcomes of Canada’s participation are in the order of $50 million, including the development of strong distribution networks in Europe.
ANUGA is the world’s largest agri-food exposition and represents an outstanding business opportunity with 6,600 exhibitors and about 160,000 visitors from some 100 countries attending the 2009 event.
“We are resolutely committed to continuing to be an international supplier of choice and we are doubling our efforts to ensure that our reputation matches the excellence of our products. This is the commitment of the Government of Canada, and it is why I went to ANUGA,” said the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn. “It is also important for me to be at ANUGA to continue the ongoing efforts of our government to support farmers and the Canadian agri-food industry to meet the challenges they face on international markets.”
This year, Canadian businesses and organizations attending ANUGA were able to count on the support of Minister Blackburn to assist them and to promote the excellence of our agri-food products. In addition to meeting and talking with numerous exhibitors and business persons, Minister Blackburn also was able to have discussions with some of his counterparts about the issues facing the industry. Among others, he had the opportunity to meet with the German Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, Ms. Ilse Aigner, and the Vice President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry, Mr. Günter Verheugen, to both of whom the Minister reaffirmed Canada’s strong political desire to reach an global economic and trade agreement with the European Union as quickly as possible.
“Our exporters of agri-food products are innovative and competitive. They are helping build Canada’s international reputation as a supplier of safe, high quality agricultural and agri-food products. I am proud to help our exporters promote a strong Canadian brand in international markets,” added Mr. Blackburn.
In 2008, Canadian agricultural and agri-food exports exceeded $43 billion (including seafood products).
