Canada and TFO Canada helping smaller exporters in developing countries improve access to Canadian markets
September 26, 2014 – Ottawa, Ontario – Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
Today, at an international networking event hosted by the Ottawa chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), Lois Brown, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, announced Canada’s support for a private-sector-oriented trade development initiative. This will drive economic growth and alleviate poverty in the developing world by building the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries to pursue export opportunities in Canada.
“Canada is committed to supporting developing-country exporters create strong and sustainable economic growth through private sector partnerships,” said PS Brown. “By equipping small and medium-sized businesses and related trade institutions with trade information, advice and contacts, it will help improve their ability to access the Canadian marketplace, as well as other markets, and ultimately create more jobs and wealth at home and abroad in order to reduce poverty.”
The five-year Canadian Market Access and Capacity Building Services project, implemented by TFO Canada, will improve the ability of thousands of smaller exporters in more than 40 developing countries to access Canadian markets. This is expected to generate more than $10 million in new export sales over the course of the project, and much more after the project comes to an end because of the recurring and self-sustaining nature of trade.
“This program will help smaller exporters from developing countries such as Bangladesh, Honduras, Jordan, Kenya, Peru and Vietnam to expand their sales by entering the Canadian market, and in doing so, sustain and generate jobs,” said Brian Mitchell, Executive Director, TFO Canada.
A component of this initiative specifically targets developing countries with which Canada has negotiated, or is negotiating, free trade agreements in order to help them benefit from these new agreements.
‘‘OWIT-Ottawa is pleased that Canada is supporting TFO Canada's initiative, which fosters international trade and creates an opportunity for women in emerging markets to personally interact with Canadian trade professionals,” said Monica Podgorny, Director, OWIT-Ottawa, and international trade lawyer at McMillan LLP. “Increased involvement of women in international trade is essential to economic growth."
Sandrine Périon
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
343-203-6238
sandrine.perion@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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