Team Canada abandons Polish visit; trade delegation still on
In place of the 13-member government delegation and about 300 member business groups, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien instead will make a scaled-down official state visit to just Warsaw and Kiev in late January. Chretien postponed his visit to Russia until an undefined later time.
"With (economic) events, particularly in Russia, there was a rethinking of how successful Team Canada would be," said Barbara Giacomin, commercial counselor and consul for the Canadian embassy.
While the trip is no longer planned as an official Team Canada event, about 150 Canadian businesses still are expected to participate in the official visit to Warsaw, she added. "Team Canada has a certain cachet to it in the business community. You can't replicate that," Giacomin said. "But at the same time if you look at what they are going to do under this program in comparison to Team Canada, there's really not a big difference."
Some business community leaders even view the change as a positive step, allowing for further flexibility for attendees.
Under Team Canada, all participants travel together and attend the same programs, said Michael Wooff, executive director of the Canada-Poland Business Club. This new program will allow for more customized presentations and further involvement of organizations like the Business Club.
Similar to a Team Canada event, the two-day Poland visit will include a number of workshops and sessions for Canadian businesses interested in investing in Poland. The Canadian government hopes to have both Polish Finance Minister Leszek Balcerowicz and the Canadian Minister for International Trade Sergio Marchi speak at the event. While the first day will include a plenary session, luncheon and sector-oriented workshops, the second day will focus on networking between Canadian and Polish businesses. Participants will pay about $1,300 for the two-day event, excluding transportation and accommodation costs.
"We're hoping to try to match Canadian businesses who are interested in doing business in Poland with a Polish counterpart," Giacomin said.
Regardless whether the event is a Team Canada mission or a state visit, Canadian businessman Jerry Jean, who serves as director of Corporate Development for Pavaco Plastics in Ontario, sees missions such as these as strong business opportunities. His company participated in a Canadian government sponsored trade mission in April 1997 and met a number of Polish companies through the event.
"They're a good way to meet people who are involved in business," Jean said. "I'm not disappointed (with the cancellation) as long as (the new event) involves business activity."
This state visit will have to suffice for some time as Giacomin does not see another premier visit to Poland in the near future.
"This will be the premier event for Canada in Poland for a little while," Giacomin said.
"With (economic) events, particularly in Russia, there was a rethinking of how successful Team Canada would be," said Barbara Giacomin, commercial counselor and consul for the Canadian embassy.
While the trip is no longer planned as an official Team Canada event, about 150 Canadian businesses still are expected to participate in the official visit to Warsaw, she added. "Team Canada has a certain cachet to it in the business community. You can't replicate that," Giacomin said. "But at the same time if you look at what they are going to do under this program in comparison to Team Canada, there's really not a big difference."
Some business community leaders even view the change as a positive step, allowing for further flexibility for attendees.
Under Team Canada, all participants travel together and attend the same programs, said Michael Wooff, executive director of the Canada-Poland Business Club. This new program will allow for more customized presentations and further involvement of organizations like the Business Club.
Similar to a Team Canada event, the two-day Poland visit will include a number of workshops and sessions for Canadian businesses interested in investing in Poland. The Canadian government hopes to have both Polish Finance Minister Leszek Balcerowicz and the Canadian Minister for International Trade Sergio Marchi speak at the event. While the first day will include a plenary session, luncheon and sector-oriented workshops, the second day will focus on networking between Canadian and Polish businesses. Participants will pay about $1,300 for the two-day event, excluding transportation and accommodation costs.
"We're hoping to try to match Canadian businesses who are interested in doing business in Poland with a Polish counterpart," Giacomin said.
Regardless whether the event is a Team Canada mission or a state visit, Canadian businessman Jerry Jean, who serves as director of Corporate Development for Pavaco Plastics in Ontario, sees missions such as these as strong business opportunities. His company participated in a Canadian government sponsored trade mission in April 1997 and met a number of Polish companies through the event.
"They're a good way to meet people who are involved in business," Jean said. "I'm not disappointed (with the cancellation) as long as (the new event) involves business activity."
This state visit will have to suffice for some time as Giacomin does not see another premier visit to Poland in the near future.
"This will be the premier event for Canada in Poland for a little while," Giacomin said.
