Consul General Ivan Počuch visits Winnipeg
27.02.2017 / 13:30 | Aktualizováno: 27.02.2017 / 19:30
From February 15 – 17 Consul General Ivan Počuch, accompanied by the Consulate´s head of economic and trade section David Müller, made a working visit to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Ivan Počuch met with high ranking Manitoba government offcials, representatives of key business associations, members of local Czech compatriot organizations and gave a lecture for members of the Canadian International Council.
During his talks with Cliff Cullen , the Manitoba Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade, Ivan Počuch discussed particular issues of trade cooperation at the provincial level, including the identification of selected sectors where the benefits for Manitoba and Czech companies would be the greatest (the aerospace industry being an example of one such sector). Minister Cullen reiterated Manitoba‘s interest in establishing new trade relations with Europe.
Ivan Počuch followed the talks with Minister Cullen by meeting with Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage, Rochelle Squires, where amongst other issues he raised the possibility of organizing a festival of Czech film in Winnipeg and discussed the synergy that cultural cooperation creates for strenghthening mutual relations, including trade relations.
During his series of meetings with representatives of the business sector Ivan Počuch held talks with Don Leitch, president of the Business Council of Manitoba, Chuck Davidson, president of the Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, Loren Remillard, president ofthe Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and Mariette Mulaire, director of the World Trade Center Winnipeg. All partners expressed a great interest in future cooperation. Even though the Czech Republic is a relatively new partner, they all perceive the need to increase Manitoba trade relations beyond the current partnerships and towards Europe. They expressed their readiness to welcome Czech companies to Manitoba.
A significant part of the trip were meetings with members of local Czech community, Czech and Slovak Association of Canada and the Czech Benevolent Society in Winnipeg. Ivan Počuch acknowledged their activity and introduced his principal plans and intended acitivites in his position as a Consul General. He confirmed his interest in closer cooperation with the Czech community in Winnipeg within the scope of the mandate of the Consulate General.
During his time in Winnipeg, Ivan Počuch gave a lecture to members of Canadian International Council aimed at current political, security and trade situation in Europe.