Canada deepens ties with West Africa as Anand concludes Benin, Côte d’Ivoire visits
Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire: Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand concluded a visit to Benin and Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday, announcing new investments and agreements as Canada seeks to strengthen its economic and diplomatic engagement with West Africa.
During the August 4-6 visit, Anand opened Canada’s new embassy in Cotonou and held talks with senior officials and business leaders in both countries as part of Canada’s Africa Strategy, according to Global Affairs Canada.
In Côte d’Ivoire, Anand met Foreign Affairs Minister Nialé Kaba to discuss bilateral relations, economic cooperation, regional security and sustainable development.
The two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a mechanism for bilateral consultations to deepen cooperation between the countries.
Anand also announced plans to begin negotiations to expand the Air Transport Agreement between Canada and Côte d’Ivoire, a move Ottawa said would strengthen commercial and people-to-people ties.
Canada announced about C$68.4 million in financing and funding for Côte d’Ivoire, including a roughly C$65 million loan through FinDev Canada to NSIA Banque Côte d’Ivoire. The financing is intended to support economic growth and financial inclusion.
Additional funding includes about C$900,000 for an inclusive bond-financing mechanism targeting very small enterprises and informal-sector workers, C$986,400 to strengthen Côte d’Ivoire’s school feeding system and C$1.5 million in continued support for the International Academy for Counter-Terrorism.
Anand also met Côte d’Ivoire Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné to discuss economic cooperation, sustainable development and peace and stability in West Africa.
The Canadian minister said Canada was committed to strengthening engagement with African partners through trade, investment and sustainable development.
In Benin, Anand announced approximately C$17 million for seven projects in Benin and across West Africa, covering women's economic empowerment, education, energy, border security, arms management and international police cooperation.
Canada and Benin also signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a mechanism for bilateral consultations.
Anand also visited the Port Autonome de Cotonou, where Canada's approximately C$26 million loan through the Canada-African Development Bank Climate Fund is supporting a broader C$316 million modernisation project incorporating climate adaptation and resilience measures.
"Canada deeply values its partnerships with Benin and Côte d’Ivoire," Anand said, adding that the visit was an opportunity to advance Canada's Africa Strategy and support sustainable economic growth and bilateral cooperation.
The visit comes as Canada seeks to diversify its international economic partnerships and expand engagement with African markets, with Ottawa highlighting trade, investment, security and sustainable development as key areas of cooperation.
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