Manila, Philippines will be the new home for a joint venture between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as part of the new Indo-Pacific strategy. The office will house a mobile team that will work directly with Canadian diplomatic missions, Canadian stakeholders, foreign interlocutors and decision makers in the region to advance mutual trade objectives for the sector.

The Office will work hand in hand with Government of Canada resources already in place in the Indo-Pacific, and will help strengthen partnerships, advance technical cooperation, support Canadian exporters in finding new business opportunities, and help position Canada as a preferred supplier in the region.

“Canada's agriculture and agri-food exporters have long called for an Indo-Pacific Strategy that would help us seize the many opportunities that exist in these dynamic and fast-growing markets,” said Dan Darling, president of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance. “We are pleased that Canada's Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food office will be established in Manila, a growing trading partner for Canada and a key member of ASEAN. We are keen to continue to work with the federal government to ensure this office helps agri-food exporters grow Canada's market share in the Indo-Pacific which will strengthen critical people-to people-ties, create new jobs, support food security, and enable more opportunities in trade for Canadian agri-food businesses.”

Source:  Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada June 7, 2023 news release