TORONTO, Nov. 24 /CNW/ - MTS Allstream Inc. ("MTS Allstream") is pleased to announce its donation of $100,000 to the David Suzuki Foundation, supporting its efforts to help transform the Canadian economy in ways that are consistent with a sustainable future. Co-founded by award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster Dr. David Suzuki, the David Suzuki Foundation is a world-renowned organization committed to helping Canadians achieve sustainability within a generation. The donation was presented at the 2009 Allstream Global Forum, held November 24 at Toronto's Allstream Centre, featuring former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore.

"Dr. Suzuki has been an important advocate and leader in the area of environmental issues and sustainability for many decades, and we hope this gift helps the David Suzuki Foundation continue its mission to create awareness and inspire others to be part of such a worthy cause," said Pierre Blouin, CEO, MTS Allstream. "As the leader in Canadian telecom on environmental matters with a history of innovation in products that offer businesses the ability to reduce their environmental impact - we are proud to make a donation to the David Suzuki Foundation

"I'd like to thank MTS Allstream for their generous donation - and for the opportunity to be a part of the 2009 Allstream Global Forum, an event that underscores their commitment to green thinking as a business strategy, and the record they are building to support this," said Dr. David Suzuki. "The event focused on environmental sustainability and the part that the business community has to play in reducing their impact on the world. MTS Allstream is doing a great job at promoting innovation as a way to solve some of the more pressing environmental challenges we face today."

The Allstream Global Forum is one of Canada's premier thought-leadership events and is staged every year by MTS Allstream, one of Canada's leading national telecommunications companies. For more information on the Allstream Global Forum, please visit www.allstream.com/globalforum. To learn more about the David Suzuki Foundation and its Long Term Direction Project, visit www.davidsuzuki.org.

About MTS Allstream

MTS Allstream is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. As one of Canada's leading national communication solutions companies, MTS Allstream provides innovative communications for the way Canadians want to live and work today. The Company has more than 100 years of experience, with 6,000 employees across Canada dedicated to a mission of delivering true value as seen through the eyes of our customers. In 2008, MTS Allstream had nearly two million total customer connections spanning business customers across Canada and residential consumers throughout the province of Manitoba. The Company's extensive national broadband and fibre optic network spans almost 30,000 kilometres. MTS Allstream is a proud sponsor of Cindy Klassen, 2006 World Champion and Canada's greatest Olympian, and a proud contributor to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Manitoba Telecom Services Inc.'s common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange (trading symbol: MBT). Customers, stakeholders and investors who want learn more about MTS Allstream services, markets, community commitments and record of creating shareholder value are encouraged to visit: www.mtsallstream.com.

About the David Suzuki Foundation

The David Suzuki Foundation works through science and education to protect the diversity of nature and our quality of life, now and for the future. With a goal of achieving sustainability within a generation, the Foundation collaborates with scientists, business and industry, academia, government and non-governmental organizations. We seek the best research to provide innovative solutions that will help build a clean, competitive economy that does not threaten the natural services that support all life. An independent charity, the Foundation does not accept direct government funding and is supported with the help of some 40,000 individual supporters across Canada and around the world.

SOURCE: MTS Allstream Inc.

Media: Greg Burch, MTS Allstream Corporate Communications, (416) 345-3576, (204)
941-8576, media.relations@mtsallstream.com; Dan Maceluch, David Suzuki Foundation,
(604) 732-4228 ext. 246, dmaceluch@davidsuzuki.org

The factory will roll out about 10,000 1.3-liter-engine cars in the first year. Although Suzuki makes motorcycles in Thailand, this will be its first automobile production facility there. The carmaker hopes to turn the operation into a key factory for Southeast Asia, eventually exporting vehicles to neighboring countries.

Under Thai regulations, some small vehicles are designated as eco-cars. Automakers can receive tax breaks if they meet certain conditions, including producing at least 100,000 such vehicles annually in a new factory's fifth year of operation.

Suzuki decided to build the plant in December 2007 after receiving approval from the Thai government for its eco-car manufacturing plan. It had initially intended to begin production in summer 2010, but postponed construction due to the sharp drop in global demand last fall.

The company trimmed projected costs from its earlier plan, which called for spending more than 30 billion yen on the factory. But it aims to expand the facility and boost personnel in line with a recovery in the automobile market.

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The company expects to start producing eco-cars at the plant in March 2012 and will manufacture 100,000 small cars in the first year.

Suzuki is also planning to reorganize its Thai automobile sales operations. It currently markets automobiles in Thailand through its local sales subsidiary, Suzuki Automobile Thailand.

The company now plans to gradually shift sales operations to its local production company, Suzuki Automobile Manufacturing Thailand.

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The country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI), majority owned by the Japanese firm, is investing up to Rs 1,500 crore in building test tracks and an R&D centre in Rohtak, Haryana.

Maruti is also considering increasing production capacity at its Manesar facility, and a decision on this is likely soon.

The company is executing its three-year plan of Rs 9,000-crore up to 2010 and is working on plans for new investments and capacity expansion in the presence of Suzuki, who has come to India to attend the company's AGM.