The Canadian minister for international trade and for the Asian-Pacific gateway, Stockwell Burt Day, Jr., paid a working visit to Latvia's President Valdis Zatlers on Tuesday, May 5.
During the meeting, the two officials discussed the economic situation which exists in Latvia and Canada at a time of a global financial crisis. In discussing further economic co-operation between the two countries, the officials agreed that there is a great deal of unused potential in this regard. Speaking about the Baltic energy market, President Zatlers and Mr Day agreed that there are promising opportunities for co-operation between Latvia and Canada in this regard. President Zatlers added that Latvia is interested in North American investments, and he noted that Latvia might be interesting to Canada as an important element in the West-East transit route.
President Zatlers also welcomed an agreement that was concluded at the Latvian Foreign Ministry today on promoting and protecting investments between Latvia and Canada. This was necessary so as to ensure that the investment agreement that was concluded between the two countries in 1995 is completely in line with EU law.
A the conclusion of the discussion, Minister Day expressed condolences on behalf of the entire Canadian population for the death of two Latvian soldiers in Afghanistan on May 1.
Minister Day visited Latvia one day before an EU-Canadian summit that is scheduled to start in Prague on May 6. The focus at the meeting will be on an all-encompassing agreement on economic partnership. This is the first time that a Canadian minister for international trade has visited Latvia.
President's Chancery
