The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Beverley Oda, Minister for International Cooperation, and the Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), today welcomed the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Luis Alberto Moreno, who is visiting Canada from November 5 to 7, 2008.
"I am pleased to welcome President Moreno to Canada," said Minister Cannon. "I look forward to meeting him in my capacity as Canada's governor to the Inter-American Development Bank.
"The Inter-American Development Bank is an important player in supporting solutions to development challenges and a valuable partner for Canada in advancing our common objectives in Latin America and the Caribbean."
"President Moreno's visit is a timely one to build on Canada's already solid relationship with the IDB in the Americas, and to work together to find regional solutions to global challenges," said Minister Oda.
"Canada's engagement in the Americas, one of our foreign policy priorities, has placed a new focus on our relationship with the Inter-American Development Bank as a key multilateral partner working toward building a more prosperous, secure and democratic hemisphere," said Minister of State Kent.
President Moreno is in Canada to raise awareness of the IDB's work and to initiate a dialogue on Canada's engagement in the Americas among the key players in Canada's private sector, as well as to advance the Bank's overall relations with Canada. During his meetings, he will discuss trade and investment opportunities, as well as the impact of the financial crisis on development in the Americas.
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