June 24, 2016. TORONTO. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) applauds the successful Canada-Ukraine Business Forum, held in Toronto on June 20, and welcomes the announcement of the official visit to Ukraine by the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, which will take place on July 11-12.
The Canada-Ukraine Business Forum, organized by Canada’s Department of Global Affairs, Ukraine’s Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce and the Conference Board of Canada, brought together high-level government delegations from Canada and Ukraine, and hundreds of business leaders and representatives of the business communities of Canada and Ukraine.
The all-day Forum focused on four key sectors of cooperation between Canadian and Ukrainian business – Information and Communications Technology; Agriculture and Food; Infrastructure and Logistics and Energy Efficiency and Renewables.
Prime Minister Trudeau addresses the Canada Ukraine Business Forum
Addressing the capacity crowd at the Business Forum, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that he will make an official visit to Ukraine on July 11-12, where he will meet with President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman. Prime Minister Trudeau stated, “Canada and Ukraine enjoy a historic friendship forged through generations of shared values and strong relations. By working together in close partnership, Canada will help bring greater security, prosperity, and economic independence to the Ukrainian people.”
Prime Minister Trudeau’s full remarks are available here: http://www.cpac.ca/en/programs/headline-politics/episodes/47794949/
Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Freeland meet with First Vice Prime Minister Kubiv
The head of Ukraine’s delegation, First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv stated, “Canada is a special country for Ukraine, a strategic partner for the state, a strategic friend for the people, a strategic relative to millions of Ukrainian families.”
Canada’s Minister of International Trade, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, stated, “The turnout here today is just the tip of the iceberg of some very close business-to-business cooperation we are already seeing. […] I am equally proud and excited to be here with you today and about the tremendous opportunities that Ukraine has, but above all that Canada and Ukraine have to deepen our strategic partnership and to deepen our economic partnership.”
The Premier of Ontario, the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, attended the Forum and addressed the participants.
The keynote address at the evening banquet was delivered by award-winning author and columnist Diane Francis. During the evening banquet, on behalf of Ukraine’s President Poroshenko, Vice Prime Minister Kubiv and Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada His Excellency Andriy Shevchenko, presented Mr. James Temerty with the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, Fifth Class, for “strengthening the international authority of the Ukrainian state, promotion of its historical heritage and modern achievements.”
“On behalf of the Ukrainian Canadian community, I sincerely congratulate Mr. Temerty on receiving this prestigious award,” stated Paul Grod, National President of the UCC. “Mr. Temerty has long been an extraordinarily generous supporter of the Ukrainian community here in Canada, the UCC, and numerous important initiatives in Ukraine. I thank Mr. Temerty for his support and his service.”
Mr. Temerty receives the Order of Yaroslav the Wise from Vice Prime Minister Kubiv and Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada, Andriy Shevchenko
The evening concluded with the auction of a traditional embroidered Ukrainian shirt (a vyshyvanka) that was worn by Prime Minister Trudeau on International Vyshyvanka Day on May 19. The auction raised $6000 for the charity Help Us Help the Children.
Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine His Excellency Roman Waschuk auctions Prime Minister Trudeau’s vyshyvanka
“Congratulations to all the organizers and participants of the Canada-Ukraine Business Forum. This was really a first-class event, which will serve to deepen business ties and cooperation between Canada and Ukraine,” stated Paul Grod. “We very much look forward to Prime Trudeau’s visit to Ukraine in July, which will be an historic opportunity to intensify the already strong relationship between our two countries.”
Press coverage of the Canada-Ukraine Business Forum
CBC News:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-nato-poland-ukraine-auschwitz-1.3644196
Globe and Mail:
National Post:
