CANADA PRIME MINISTER STARTS VISIT TO CHILE

Santiago, April 17 (PL)- The Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper began yesterday a official visit to Chile invited by President Sebastian Pinera and arrives in the context of the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement.

On this second visit (the first in July 2007), the delegation is also made up of International Trade Minister Ed Fast; The Minister for the Americas and Consular Affairs Diane Ablonczy and few tradesmen, confirming the health of the bilateral relations, said government sources.

The Framework Agreement for Strategic Association as fomented relations in education, science, technology and renewable energies.

It has braced, above all, commerce and ties in mining, disaster prevention, labor security, aquaculture, agriculture, forestal resources and public safety, among others.

Canadian annual exports have grown 20 percent after the FTA's signing.

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