Toronto, Ontario, January 28, 2014 - On January 16th, 2014 in Toronto, at the Canada - European Union CETA informational event organized by the Canadian - Croatian Chamber of Commerce, members of Canadian parliament, representatives of the Croatian government, and leading business professionals discussed the impact the Free Trade Agreement will have on Canada and the European Union. The much anticipated event received support by the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism.

Mr. Ted Opitz, MP, Mr. Wladyslaw Lizon, MP, and Mr. Veselko Grubisic, Ambassador of Croatia to Canada, discussed how the economies will benefit from the Canada - European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). Canadian companies will gain access to the world’s largest economy - the European Union - a market which consists of 500 million consumers and an annual economic activity of almost $17 trillion.

As stated at the event, in order for the two economies to reach their full potential, they will require structured and purposeful knowledge exchange and the capability to develop the global leaders of tomorrow. This need is also acknowledged by Canada’s newly launched International Education Strategy, which seeks to maximize economic opportunities for Canada in international education and reach 450,000 international students by 2022. In addition, it is closely tied to Canada’s Global Markets Action Plan (announced in November 2013) which is vital for the expansion of Canadian businesses and the economy as a whole.
Subsequent to the discussions from Canadian and European officials, Ms. Lynda Zugec, an international management consultant and established leadership development professional, expanded on the ways in which Crossing the Globe serves as a prime example of how businesses and non-profit organizations can align themselves with the Canada - European Union Free Trade Agreement and Canada’s International Education Strategy.

Ms. Zugec described how Crossing the Globe will cultivate knowledge exchange and foster leadership development through its initial program offerings. Set to launch in February 2014 in Canada and Croatia, these programs were developed in cooperation with top-ranking universities, world-renowned leadership experts and innovative organizations across Canada and the European Union. They will be succeeded by increasingly ambitious projects intended to strengthen the Canadian and European economies, build bridges, and raise influence on the world stage.

Amongst other prominent individuals, present at the event were Mr. Ross Hornby, former Ambassador of Canada to the European Union; Mr. Milo Vassallo, Board member of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Canada and former Consul General of Malta; Mr. Peter W. Meiklejohn, Board member of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Canada (Representing the Lithuanian Embassy); Mr. Giorgio Tinelli, Business Development Officer, Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario; Ms. Ivana Crnic, Croatian Consul to Canada; Mr. Ljubinko Matesic, Consul General, Consulate of the Republic of Croatia – Mississauga; Mr. Stephen Klus, Vice President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Canada and Vice President of the Canada Poland Chamber of Commerce of Toronto; Mr. John Marion, President of Baka Communications Inc. and President, Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce.

Crossing the Globe is a non-profit organization whose aim is to encourage knowledge exchange and leadership development amongst businesses, government, and society on a global scale.

Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit network of Canadian-Croatian businesses and professionals acting as the voice of Canadian and Croatian businesses in Canada.

Photos from the event are available at:
http://tinyurl.com/nq6mrs8

000 - Canada - European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
000 - Minister for Multiculturalism - Support Letter
001, 002 - Mr. Veselko Grubisic, Ambassador of Croatia to Canada
003 - Mr. Ted Opitz, MP and Mr. Wladyslaw Lizon, MP
004 - Ms. Lynda Zugec, Managing Director, Crossing the Globe
005 - (left to right) Mr. Ted Opitz, MP; Mr. Wladyslaw Lizon, MP; Mr. John Marion, President, Canadian-Croatian Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Veselko Grubisic, Ambassador of Croatia to Canada; Mr. Ljubinko Matesic, Consul General at Consulate of the Republic of Croatia – Mississauga
006 - Ms. Lynda Zugec, Managing Director, Crossing the Globe, and Mr. Ted Opitz, MP
007 - Mr. Ted Opitz, MP; Ms. Lynda Zugec, Managing Director, Crossing the Globe; Mr. Veselko Grubisic, Ambassador of Croatia to Canada
008 - Ms. Lynda Zugec, Managing Director, Crossing the Globe and Mr. Wladyslaw Lizon, MP

Press Contact:
Andrew Penezic
Crossing The Globe
Toronto, Ontario
+1-646-797-2946
[email protected]
http://www.CrossingTheGlobe.org