Ottawa, Canada – 30 September 2016 - H.E. Mrs. Fatima Haram Acyl, the African Union Commissioner for Trade and Industry paid a working visit to Global Affairs Canada in the Canadian capital city of Ottawa where she held important meetings and useful engagement with a number of senior government officials and stakeholders on critical issues related to the  Africa-Canada Cooperation.

 Commissioner Acyl was received in audience by the Canadian Minister of International development and La Francophonie, H.E Marie-Claude Bibeau. Both officials exchanged views touching on Canadian support for the continent’s development and the role of the African Union Commission among other critical development issues. The Commissioner thanked the Canadian government for their technical and financial support to the African Union through their contribution to key initiatives including the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) and the African Mining Development Centre (AMDC).

 The Commissioner also participated in a round table discussion chaired by Ms. Lisa Stadelbauer, Director General, Pan-African Bureau of Global Affairs Canada. The roundtable focused on the themes of: Canada’s value added in Africa through business and economic development; women’s economic empowerment in Africa; and Africa’s youth bulge and the need for skills development. The roundtable was an opportunity to discuss with Canadian stakeholders about the AU’s agenda 2063 as well as the work of the AUC in promoting the continent’s development.

 After the roundtable, the Commissioner was hosted at a working lunch by H.E Christine Hogan, the Canadian Deputy Minister for International Trade. There were key exchanges between Commissioner Acyl and Minister Hogan on the African trade agenda, specifically the negotiations of the Continental Free Trade Area, as well as the future opportunities for enhanced Africa-Canada trade and investment relations.

The working visit rounded up with an event co-organized by the Canadian Centre Fair Trade Policy and Law focusing on Africa and the Canadian government’s Progressive Trade Agenda.

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For further information, please contact Mr. Babajide Sodipo – Chief Policy Advisor - Email:   SodipoB@africa-union.org

Media contacts:

Patient Atcho, Department of Trade and Industry – Tel: + 251 929335250 - Email: atchop@africa-union.org  and Esther Azaa Tankou, Directorate of Information and Communication, AUC Tel. +251 911361185, E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org

For further information: Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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Directorate of Information and Communication | Information and Communication | African Union Commission

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