The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, concluded a successful one-week trade mission to Japan and Singapore.
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The mission underscored one of the Government of Canada's top priorities under the Indo Pacific Strategy (IPS): to expand our partnerships and trade relationships in this region.
Throughout the outreach, Minister Bibeau took part in conversations with her international counterparts and in-market stakeholders, where she reinforced Canada's commitment to deepening and diversifying agriculture trade, promoting Canadian agriculture and agri-food products, sustainable global food trade, and food security.
In Japan, Minister Bibeau met with key Japanese agri-food stakeholders, Canadian industry associations, and Canadian businesses in Tokyo, to highlight the economic relationship between Canada and Japan, and discussed increasing trade and investment ties in the region.
Minister Bibeau also participated in the G7 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting in Miyazaki, where she discussed with her counterparts net zero initiatives, sustainable agriculture, resilient agricultural systems, and food security.
The Minister also held bilateral meetings with key partners, including Japan's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Nomura Tetsuro.
While in Singapore, Minister Bibeau attended the Food and Hotel Asia trade show with Alvin Tan, Singapore's Minister of State for Trade and Industry. During the opening ceremony, she highlighted Canadian exporters, as well as their high-quality products and the refreshed Canada Brand that helps Canada stand out in increasingly crowded and competitive global marketplaces.
Minister Bibeau also joined Koh Poh Koon, Singapore's Senior Minister of State of Sustainability and the Environment, for a bilateral meeting to discuss Singapore's '30 by 30' Initiative to build up its agri-food industry's capacity, and how Canada can contribute to Singapore's food security goals.
Finally, Minister Bibeau hosted a round table discussion in Singapore with the Canada-ASEAN Business Council to discuss opportunities and challenges for Canadian companies operating in the region.
The Indo-Pacific encompasses 40 countries and economies: Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, North Korea, Pacific Island Countries (14), Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam.
The Indo-Pacific is likely to make up two-thirds of the middle class by 2030, and over half of global GDP by 2040. ■