THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcomed Canada’s establishment of a regional agricultural office in Manila.

A statement was issued by the DFA following an announcement about Canada’s decision to open an Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food office in Manila to highlight the important role the Philippines plays in its 2.3 billion Canadian dollars (P96 billion) Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS).

The DFA said, as a regional base, the Manila office will play a “significant role” and serve as a staging point for enhancing technical cooperation and fostering increased trade of crucial agriculture and agri-food products between the Philippines and Canada.

As noted by Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly in her official visit to the Philippines in May 2023, Philippine and Canadian agriculture institutions, farmers, and related companies will benefit from the direct exchange of knowledge and skills, as well as information on respective food and agriculture standards, the DFA said.

It is envisioned that this recent addition to the Canadian Embassy in Manila, one of the biggest missions of Global Affairs Canada in the world, will help the Philippines’ meet its food security and resiliency goals.

The office will work hand in hand with the Canadian government to strengthen partnerships, advance technical cooperation, support Canadian exporters in finding new business opportunities, and help position Canada as a preferred supplier in the region.

“The Philippines is an important partner under the Indo-Pacific Strategy. Hosting this new office is an opportunity to build on our economic relationship, and enrich people-to-people ties,” Canadian Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said.

“Our government will continue to help Canadian farmers, food processors, and exporters maximize their opportunities, and diversify their markets in the world’s fastest-growing economic zone,” she added.

The Canadian Embassy in Manila said the office is a joint venture between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. It will be established under Ottawa’s IPS.

It will consist of 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.

In a statement, Dan Darling, president of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA), highlighted the Philippines’ position as a “growing trade partner” for Canada and a key member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“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,” Darling said.

“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,” he emphasized.

CAFTA represents 90% of Canadian farmers who depend on trade and ranchers, producers, processors, and agri-food exporters who seek better access to international markets.

In 2022, Canada’s agriculture and agri-food exports to the Indo-Pacific region totaled 21.8 billion Canadian dollars.

Global agri-food and seafood imports into ASEAN markets have also increased by 177% from 72 billion Canadian dollars in 2012 to 200 billion Canadian dollars in 2022.