Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I'm delighted that you could join us. We should have started earlier, so we will try to make up for lost time.
Currently, the committee is examining Canadian trade and investment policy, particularly as regards international trade. In order to achieve wealth and experience economic growth, Canada must sell the products that it manufactures and produces. I will not elaborate on the philosophical underpinnings of marketing, but the fact remains that ultimately, everybody wants to sell, but nobody wants to buy.
You represent foreign businesses. You say that the world has changed significantly. The approach taken is no longer the same. Currently, investors, business people and companies operating abroad do not all share the same status. We only have a general idea of how major companies operate.
Nonetheless, what type of assistance would a medium-sized business need from departments? What foreign market opportunities can they expect to encounter?