Minister Paradis participates in the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings
October 10, 2014 – Washington, DC – Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
Today, the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, wrapped up a two-day trip to Washington, DC where he reiterated Canada’s commitment to the advancement of development priorities while participating in the 2014 annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund.
“Investing in people is the key to helping stimulate real economic growth to end global poverty,” said Minister Paradis. “Canada is pleased to partner with the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund to have a real impact on families in some of the poorest countries in the world. Canada will continue to engage the private sector in order to grow businesses and build economic foundations for a sustainable future.”
While in Washington, Minister Paradis met with delegates and partners from around the world to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to alleviate poverty and deliver humanitarian assistance. The Minister held bilateral meetings with ministers from several developing countries including Haiti, Cabo Verde and Ethiopia. The Minister also attended the like-minded development ministers’ meeting to discuss the post-2015 development agenda as well as innovative development financing.
Minister Paradis signed a Collaboration Arrangement with World Bank Group President Dr. Jim Yong Kim, and senior government representatives from Australia, Singapore, and Japan to launch the development of the Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF). The GIF will function as a global platform to harness public and private knowledge and capital to accelerate the development and implementation of complex public-private infrastructure projects by engaging and integrating the efforts of multilateral development banks, institutional investors, private sector infrastructure service providers, and local governments. The GIF will help clear the way for large-scale infrastructure investments that will stimulate economic growth and expand access to basic services that help alleviate poverty in emerging markets and developing economies.
“Engaging the private sector to help address the estimated $1 trillion per year global gap in infrastructure development is critical to meeting our development objectives,” said Minister Paradis. “We are pleased to see the interest shown in the GIF by Canadian investors and infrastructure service providers and we will work closely with la Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec, who signed the GIF Collaboration Arrangement as an Advisory Partner, as well as other Canadian partners to help ensure the successful implementation of the GIF.”
Minister Paradis also reiterated the importance of working with our global partners to advance maternal, newborn and child health, Canada’s top development priority. To this end, he participated in a panel discussion on the importance of civil registration and vital statistics systems as a valuable public investment in safeguarding the rights of women and children, improving policy development and program delivery, and strengthening accountability. Minister Paradis also acknowledged the leadership of the World Bank Group for launching the development of the Global Financing Facility for Every Woman Every Child, which will support developing countries’ efforts in women’s and children’s health, and civil registration and vital statistics.
“Ending the preventable deaths of mothers and children is a top priority for Canada,” said Minister Paradis. “We are pleased to join the World Bank Group as a founding partner of the Global Financing Facility in support of Every Woman Every Child, which will mobilize financial support for developing countries’ efforts to end preventable maternal and child deaths by 2030. Canada will continue to ensure that developing countries have access to capital that will strengthen their health systems and build the necessary civil registration and vital statistics systems needed to save the lives of mothers and children.”
During his trip, Minister Paradis participated at a conference hosted by the Center for Strategic & International Studies. The Minister delivered opening remarks and participated in several panels where he highlighted Canada’s efforts in stimulating sustainable economic growth in developing countries in La Francophonie. He also reiterated the importance of science and technology, resource management and partnership with the private sector to help developing countries reduce poverty and grow their economies more sustainably.
The World Bank Group is one of Canada's most important international development partners. Canada works with the World Bank Group to achieve results in all of the Government’s development priority areas, including increasing food security; securing the future of children and youth, particularly maternal, newborn and child health; and, stimulating sustainable economic growth.
Louis Longchamps
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
343-203-6581
louis.longchamps@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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