Minister Paradis Announces New Support for Public-Private Partnerships to Create Jobs and Opportunities in Asia-Pacific Region

News Release

May 6, 2015 - Ottawa, Ontario - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today announced new Canadian support promoting public-private partnerships to help stimulate sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty in the Asia-Pacific region.

Canada will provide support to the Asia Pacific Project Preparation Facility, managed by the Asian Development Bank. The facility will provide technical support to help countries in the Asia-Pacific region develop public-private partnership infrastructure projects that will attract and secure financing from private sources, including Canadian companies. The facility will target such sectors as transport and logistics, energy, and urban services, such as water, sanitation, waste management and urban transport.

Strengthening economic ties with the Asia-Pacific region and opening new markets for Canadian exporters is also part of the Government of Canada’s Global Markets Action Plan.

Quick Facts

The Asian Development Bank estimates an $8-trillion infrastructure gap in Asia through 2020, which represents a considerable constraint to economic growth.
The growing Asia-Pacific region is a key priority for Canada. The Government of Canada committed to expanding trade with emerging markets in Asia, including through its engagement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Since 2006 the Government of Canada has partnered with the four western provinces, municipalities and the private sector to announce Asia-Pacific Gateway infrastructure projects worth $3.3 billion, including federal contributions exceeding $1.4 billion.
On April 20, 2015, Minister Paradis outlined Canada’s commitment to support the newest regional platform of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Grow Asia, which is a partnership developed in collaboration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat. Grow Asia is part of WEF’s Global Challenge on Food Security and Agriculture, of which Canada is a founding member.
The ASEAN region is Canada’s seventh-largest trading partner. Canada is one of the top 10 agri-food suppliers to ASEAN, with exports growing from about $400 million in 2003 to $1.25 billion in 2013.
An effective infrastructure that provides clean water and electricity is critical to improving health and reducing poverty in developing economies.
On May 29, 2014, at the Saving Every Woman, Every Child: Within Arm’s Reach summit, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced an additional commitment of $3.5 billion for the period 2015–2020 for maternal, newborn and child health. At the summit, the Prime Minister set out a strategy to effectively reduce maternal and child death with an emphasis on strengthening health systems, improving nutrition and reducing the burden of leading diseases, as well as a commitment to supporting Canadian partners’ important work in advancing this global priority.

Quotes

“Private investment is critical to promoting sustainable economic growth in developing countries and improving the lives of their most vulnerable citizens. Effective infrastructure improves access to markets and reliable sources of clean water and electricity, which is critical to improving living standards and reducing poverty in developing economies. Key investments such as this also reflect our continued effort to support and engage the Asia-Pacific region and are a key part of Canada’s international priorities.”

- Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie

“Given their huge infrastructure needs, governments in Asia and the Pacific need more options for funding and operational efficiency in infrastructure projects, and we are very pleased and honoured that Canada is helping to make that happen.”

- Ryuichi Kaga, Head of the Office of Public-Private Partnership, Asian Development Bank.

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2016-12-14

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Minister Paradis Announces New Support for Public-Private Partnerships to Create Jobs and Opportunities in Asia-Pacific Region

News Release

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