Minister Fast Leads Trade Mission to Africa
First trade mission of 2013 to focus on key opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses in fast-growing markets
January 27, 2013 – The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, announced today that he will lead a trade mission to Nigeria and Ghana from January 27 to February 1, 2013. Representatives from 28 Canadian companies and organizations, predominantly from the extractive and infrastructure sectors, will participate in the trade mission.
“Exporting Canada’s world-class goods, services and expertise to new, fast-growing markets around the world is a key part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan for jobs, growth and long-term prosperity,” said Minister Fast. “This mission to Africa—my first trade mission of 2013—is an important part of that plan.”
Africa is one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the world. According to the International Monetary Fund, five of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies are in sub-Saharan Africa. Between 1995 and 2011, average annual GDP growth in sub-Saharan Africa was greater than 4.9 percent.
“I look forward to working with mission participants, who have the technologies and expertise that can help developing countries advance and manage their natural resource industries responsibly while fostering prosperity, job creation, poverty reduction and good governance,” added Minister Fast.
Canadian companies excel in mining, oil and gas extraction, and infrastructure development, including power and energy generation—areas that are in high demand in developing economies.
Canada’s bilateral merchandise trade with Nigeria reached $2.7 billion in 2011, up nearly 44 percent over 2010; bilateral merchandise trade with Ghana reached almost $322 million in 2011, up 61 percent over 2010.
For more information, see Minister Fast’s trade mission to Africa.
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Backgrounder – Trade Mission Participants
Representatives from the following companies and organizations will accompany Minister Fast on the trade mission to Nigeria and Ghana.
Afolabi Ntan LLP, Ottawa, Ontario
Aird and Berlis LLP, Toronto, Ontario
Armtec Infrastructure Inc., Guelph, Ontario
Bombardier Inc., Montréal, Quebec
Canadian Commercial Corporation, Ottawa, Ontario
Canadian Council on Africa, Ottawa, Ontario
Corvus Energy, Richmond, British Columbia
CPCS, Ottawa, Ontario
Dessau Inc., Montréal, Quebec
Em-One Energy Solutions Canada Inc., Toronto, Ontario
Episolar Inc., Toronto, Ontario
Export Development Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
Golder Associates Ltd, Toronto, Ontario
GreenElectric Power Corporation, Bradford, Ontario
Hyduke Energy Services Inc., Nisku, Alberta
IMW Industries, Chilliwack, British Columbia
Inkas Group, Toronto, Ontario
James Bay Resources Limited, Toronto, Ontario
Magellan Aerospace Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario
Marcotte Mining Machinery Services Inc., Sudbury, Ontario
McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Ottawa, Ontario
Midgard Consulting Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia
Petro-Techna International Limited, Mississauga, Ontario
Redline Communications Group Inc., Markham, Ontario
Royal Canadian Mint, Ottawa, Ontario
Safran Morpho Canada Inc., Montréal, Quebec
SkyWave Mobile Communications, Ottawa, Ontario
Solmax, Varennes, Quebec
