Christyn Cianfarani
February 24th, 19:00, The Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Check Against Delivery
Canadian Embassy Reception and Networking Function:
Speaking Notes for Opening Remarks
Tuesday, February 24, 2015, 7:00 pm, The Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi
YOUR EXCELLENCY, GENTLEMEN, LADIES, WELCOME. BONJOUR MESDAMES ET MESSIEURS. BY NOW YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WELCOMED A FEW TIMES, BUT ON BEHALF OF CADSI, OUR MEMBERS AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERS HERE WITH US AND BACK IN CANADA, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND ANOTHER WELCOME AND A THANK YOU TO HIS EXCELLENCY AMBASSADOR LALANI FOR HOSTING US THIS EVENING, TO CANADIAN COMMERCIAL CORPORATION FOR BEING HERE WITH US AND TO THOSE CANADIAN COMPANIES EXHIBITING HERE WITH US AT THE CANADA PAVILION AND THOSE ON OTHER PARTS OF THE TRADE SHOW FLOOR.
THIS IS OUR LARGEST INTERNATIONAL TRADE SHOW YET. WE’VE GONE FROM FOUR EXHIBITORS OVER 571 SQUARE FEET AND FOUR WALKERS TWO YEARS AGO IN 2013, TO 17 EXHIBITORS OVER 4,210 SQUARE FEET AND 10 WALKERS TODAY. FOR MY FELLOW BUSINESS-MINDED COLLEAGUES, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THAT’S THE ELUSIVE TRIPLE-DIGIT GROWTH.
OUR REPRESENTATION AT THIS EVENT, IN TOTAL OVER 50 INCREDIBLY INNOVATIVE CANADIAN COMPANIES UNDER THE RED, WHITE AND MAPLE LEAF OF THE CANADA PAVILION, REMINDS ME OF CANADA HOUSE AT THE WINTER OLYMPICS: PROUDLY AND UNABASHEDLY CANADIAN WHILE ALL THE WHILE RESPECTFULLY AMASSING OUR “GOLD MEDALS” FOR EXPORT EXCELLENCE.
AS MUCH AS WE WANT TO BE AND ARE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR OWN RIGHT, WE ALSO BELIEVE IN PARTNERSHIP AND HELPING OTHERS IN ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS. I BELIEVE THAT THESE VALUES ARE WHAT MAKES US EXCELLENT PARTNERS IN THIS REGION. I SUPPOSE IN KEEPING WITH MY OLYMPIC ANALOGY, I’M REMINDED OF CANADIAN COACH JUSTIN WADSWORTH HELPING OUT ANOTHER NATION’S ATHLETE BY GIVING AND ATTACHING A PRECIOUS SKI TO HIS FEET SO THAT HE COULD COMPLETE THE RACE. TO THOSE HERE WITH US TODAY WHO SUPPORT, REPRESENT OR PARTNER WITH CANADIAN COMPANIES SO THAT WE MIGHT EXPORT INTO THIS REGION, WE’RE HONOURED THAT YOU HAVE JOINED US HERE TONIGHT AND ON BEHALF OF CADSI, I’D LIKE TO WISH ALL COMPANIES HERE A SUCCESSFUL REST OF TRADE SHOW.
The Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) is the national industry voice of more than 650 Canadian defence, security and cybersecurity companies that produce world-class goods, services and technologies made across Canada and sought the world over. The industries contribute to the employment of more than 78,000 Canadians and generate $12.6 billion in annual revenues, roughly half of which come from exports. To learn more, visit defenceandsecurity.ca.
CADSI's current advocacy focus areas, driven by member input and Canada's evolving defence needs
