Canada–Greece relations

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.

Canadian-Greek relations
Map indicating locations of Canada and Greece

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

History

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 bilateral treaties and agreements
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

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. 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.

Resident diplomatic missions
  • Embassy of Canada in Athens
    Embassy of Canada in Athens
  • Embassy of Greece in Ottawa
    Embassy of Greece in Ottawa
  • Consulate-General of Greece in Montreal
    Consulate-General of Greece in Montreal

See also

Notes
  1. Historica Canada: Greeks
  2. 70th anniversary of Greek-Canadian diplomatic relations
  3. "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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