State Visit to Poland - Day 2

Their Excellencies laid a wreath at the Two Rocks Memorial to honour Canadian and Polish soldiers who fought side by side during World War II.

His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Canadian delegates met with Bogdan Borusewicz, Marshal of the Senate, to discuss bilateral Canada-Poland relations and people-to-people ties on October 24, 2014.

Canadian delegate John Jung, Chief Executive Officer at Canada’s Technology Triangle, was one the panellists who participated in the discussion.

Business, government and academic leaders attended the event.

President Komorowski delivered a speech on this occasion.

Upon his arrival at the Canada-Poland Panel Discussion at the Warsaw Stock Exchange, His Excellency was greeted by Bronislaw Komorowski, President of Poland.

This event was an opportunity for the Governor General to highlight the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and its impact on strengthening and diversifying bilateral trade, investment and innovation prospects. His Excellency met with Jerzy Witold Pietrewicz, Secretary of State, Ministry of Economy.

In the afternoon, the Governor General addressed key leaders of the business community in Poland on the main trends, challenges and opportunities within the Canada-Poland commercial relationship: "Since we already have a strong trade relationship, we must now ask ourselves, where do we go from here? I believe we must act today to secure our future trade relationship to benefit the next generation of Canadians and Poles," said His Excellency.

Located in front of the Canadian Embassy, the memorial consists of commemorative plaques on two stones—one from Canada and the other from Poland—standing side by side. The Canadian stone was drawn from the Barry’s Bay/Wilmo area of Ontario, where the first major settlement of Poles in Canada took place in the late 19th century. Canadian and Polish troops fought together at Monte Cassino, Falaise and in the Battle of Britain.

"Poland’s strengths are numerous and impressive, and Canadians are eager to co-operate with people here on innovation and entrepreneurship—which can also be key drivers in strengthening our bilateral relationship more generally," said His Excellency.