PH Ambassador Discuss Development Cooperation with Canada’s Minister for International Development

OTTAWA 09 May 2023 — Philippine Ambassador to Canada Maria Andrelita S. Austria paid a courtesy call on Canada’s Minister for International Development Harjit Sajjan on 04 May 2023 in his office in Ottawa.  Minister Sajjan is also the Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada.

During the call, Minister Sajjan talked about his recent visit to the Philippines, which gave him a better understanding of the development needs of the country. He recalled the Filipinos’ hospitality and generosity of spirit while visiting several development projects that were supported by Canada.

With the recent announcement of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and its accompanying budget for the first five years, Minister Sajjan highlighted Canada’s readiness to support the Philippines’ interests in various areas, including in climate resilience and food security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, maritime security and the blue economy, and entrepreneurship.

Ambassador Austria took the opportunity to inform Minister Sajjan of the situation of the almost one million Filipino and Filipino-Canadians living in Canada. She also discussed cooperation in agriculture and education between the two countries.

Ambassador Austria and Minister Sajjan then exchanged views on the 75th anniversary of Philippines-Canada diplomatic relations next year, emphasizing on the people-to-people ties that bind the two countries.  END

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