Canada–Greece relations

Canadian-Greek relations
Map indicating locations of Canada and Greece

Canada

Greece
Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird and Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos; 2013

Canada and Greece first exchanged ambassadors in 1942. Both countries are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, NATO and the United Nations. There is a strong Greek community living in Canada.

History

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Greek immigration to Canada began in 1843 when Greek migrants began arriving and settling in Montreal. By 1941, over 5,000 Greek migrants resided in Canada.[1] During World War II both nations fought alongside each other during the Italian Campaign. In 1942, Canada established diplomatic relations with the Greek government-in-exile.[2] Soon afterwards, the two nations opened diplomatic missions in each other's respective capitals.

Today, over 243,000 Canadians claim Greek descent.[3] In 2012, both nations celebrated 70 years since the establishment of mutual diplomatic relations.[2]

List of agreements

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Greek-Canadian monument in Toronto
  • Agreement on Taxation of Shipping companies (1929)
  • Agreement on Social Security (1981)
  • Agreement on Regular Air Transport (1987)
  • Revised Agreement on Regular Air Transport
  • Agreement on the Avoidance of double taxation

Trade relations

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Canada's main exports to Greece are paper, furs, machinery, vegetables, aircraft and pharmaceutical products. Canadian merchandise imports from Greece include preserved food products, aluminium, fats and oils, and fertilizers.[3] Greece's business community with relations to Canada and Canadian companies operating in Greece set up the Hellenic-Canadian Chamber of Commerce in 1996, whose mission is to foster the development of business relations between the two countries in trade, finance, services and investments.[3]

Bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Greece reached $303 million CAD in 2014.[citation needed] Canadian exports to Greece totaled $117 million CAD, led by furs, vegetables and pharmaceutical products. Greek exports to Canada totaled $186 million CAD in 2014, led by food products, fats, oil (not crude) and iron/steel.[citation needed]

Resident diplomatic missions

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Historica Canada: Greeks
  2. ^ a b 70th anniversary of Greek-Canadian diplomatic relations
  3. ^ a b c "Canada-Greece Relations". Archived from the original on 2017-10-17. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  4. ^ "Embassy of Canada in Greece". Archived from the original on 2016-05-10. Retrieved 2017-04-17.
  5. ^ Embassy of Greece in Canada
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