Evidence of meeting #4 for International Trade in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was firms.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia and Chief Trade Commissioner, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Yes, we do publish reports on market opportunities.
NDP
Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC
Reports on foreign market opportunities, yes. But what about the economic impact on Canadian communities?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia and Chief Trade Commissioner, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
As far as I know, there aren’t any reports on that, but provinces often do publish those types of reports.
NDP
Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC
Okay. Thank you.
As for India, everyone at this table probably wants to make sure that Canada's agreement with that country is as beneficial as possible. I want to use this perfect opportunity to ask you what you think are the major challenges Canadian businesses face, especially small businesses, in terms of market access.
Does India have any industry sectors that are especially appealing to Canadian companies?
I also want to know whether your office is supposed to advise the minister on that specific agreement.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia and Chief Trade Commissioner, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Of course. One of our sectors is in charge of negotiating agreements, be they free trade agreements, air transport agreements or investment protection agreements. That covers all agreements, worldwide. I think that the assistant deputy minister in charge, Mr. Burney, has already spoken before your committee. He’s the one who takes care of that within our department.
In India, information technology, as well as the agroprocessing, forest and mining industries, are very important markets for Canada.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia and Chief Trade Commissioner, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
As in all free trade agreements, our negotiators have issues at stake. It is always a big challenge, a battle between the two parties. However, we try to create a win-win situation in all our agreements.
NDP
Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC
Are there no specific sectors that are problematic for Canadian small businesses in the agreement with India?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia and Chief Trade Commissioner, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Since I am not in charge of those negotiations, I cannot say. Negotiations are always very complicated. It would be better if my colleague.... This is someone else’s area of expertise, someone else’s sandbox.
Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia and Chief Trade Commissioner, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I cannot go digging in their sandbox. That’s always difficult professionally.
Conservative
Devinder Shory Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
Thank you once again, Mr. Chair.
I have to share something today with the department about the availability of assistance by their overseas offices. It's quite robust. I will share my experience with my colleagues as well.
In 2009, I guess, I was on a personal trip to India and I got an invitation to speak to a panel in the northern state of Punjab, in a city called Ludhiana, which I would say is the only major industrial city in that state. I got this invitation to speak on a panel addressing the CEOs of all of these big companies: Atlas Copco, Hero Honda Motors, Vardham, Oswal Trident, you name it, they were all there. So I was a little stressed out about what I would say.
I contacted my assistant here in Ottawa to get in touch with DFAIT and, believe me, it was 12:00 or 12:30 and there was a time difference, but I got everything I needed. The department worked through the night.
So thank you very much for that kind of assistance. It was very helpful. The name I gave to my speech was “Canada and India--Natural Trade Partners”.
Conservative
Conservative
Devinder Shory Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
Absolutely.
So, once again, thank you very much.
Coming back to today's meeting, I heard Mr. McGovern talking about some risks in international business. Could you please elaborate on what kinds of risks these are?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia and Chief Trade Commissioner, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
I think particularly for SMEs, the biggest risk is time. When you have a very small operation and you're reliant on a very small number of individuals who are dealing with key dimensions of your business, if a person has to absent themself to go on a trip for a week or two, you're leaving your operation a little bit vulnerable. That's why we've spoken about the importance of focus. If you do travel, you should know where you're going to, who you're going to speak to, and have a very clear business objective to your travel. Those are the kinds of things that we play into. Of course, when you're in markets, there are all kinds of business pitfalls that you have to avoid. For instance, you meet a connection. Is that connection reputable, is it somebody you can trust? What are their bona fides? Is it a real market opportunity? Again, it's the issue of focus.
If you can be assured on a number of important points that, yes, this is a real company, and that yes, these are viable interlocutors, then you know and can make an informed business decision. We try to create an environment that allows a business person, particularly from an SME or the head of a small firm, to be focused in making a clear decision, and to pursue an opportunity to be successful.
Conservative
Devinder Shory Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
Mr. Chair, I agree with Mr. McGovern on that because focus is important.
I forgot to mention one more thing. During that meeting, the department made sure that one of their commissioners actually travelled from New Delhi to that place to assist me and to answer all of the technical questions. So it was a very good job done by the department.
I don't think I have any more questions.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Very good, thank you very much for that endorsement. I'm sure it was appreciated. I get the sense that there is some tremendous work that is being done.
Mr. Easter, you have five minutes.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
You have a number of offices in Canada and around the world for sure. I don't have the note, but I believe it was 170, wasn't it?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia and Chief Trade Commissioner, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
We have 18 domestic offices and our headquarters operation.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Okay. What's your presence in the United States? Do you have a big presence there, or is it through the consulates? How do you operate in the U.S.?
Assistant Deputy Minister, Asia and Chief Trade Commissioner, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
We operate through a mix—of course, quarterbacked by the embassy in Washington. We have a number of consulate generals—larger posts—and then we have a number of smaller offices, in some instances one-person offices. Then we have a number of hybrids where you have a little bit bigger presence. For instance, in Raleigh-Durham, we have five people. We have one person in San Diego, and we have one person in San Jose, although we have a big consulate general office in San Francisco. I could probably run through all of the offices for you, if you want.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
I don't need them all. Your offices are actually beyond where the consulates are.