Subjects: ASI, CFG, DEI

Minister MacAulay concludes successful trip to Vietnam, Japan and South Korea to open doors for the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector

OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 6, 2023 /CNW/ - Canada is growing what the world wants and the Government of Canada is committed to supporting our hardworking Canadian producers by expanding trade and investment opportunities around the globe.

To further this effort, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, travelled to Vietnam, Japan and South Korea to meet with key industry groups, facilitate new business opportunities and connections, promote Canada's high-quality agri-food products, and engage with local government representatives.

In Hanoi, Minister MacAulay met with industry leaders, key importers of Canadian products, and with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan. As a fellow member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Vietnam is an important partner ? and a fast-growing market for Canadian products. The two leaders marked the 50^th anniversary of Canada-Vietnam bilateral relations, explored new business opportunities, and had positive discussions on market access for Canadian products, including wheat, pork, blueberries, and potatoes.

While in Tokyo, Minister MacAulay joined the Trade Mission led by the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, and met with key business partners in the region. The Minister also met with State Minister Norikazu Suzuki where he reiterated Canada's role as a reliable supplier of agricultural products and underscored Canada's commitment to secure an African swine fever zoning arrangement.

In Seoul, Minister MacAulay announced more than $23 million in funding for agricultural industry stakeholders under the AgriMarketing Program. This investment will increase and diversify Canada's exports and help Canadian producers and exporters build stronger ties with customers around the world. The Minister also met with representatives from SSG.com and Homeplus, two of South Korea's top retailers, to further promote Canada as the supplier of choice for high-quality, innovative and sustainable food products.

Canada exports nearly half of its agriculture production and the Indo-Pacific region presents tremendous economic opportunities for the sector. Expanding our partnerships and trade relationships in the region is a top priority for the Government of Canada, and Team Canada Trade Missions are a key initiative under the Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Canada is further bolstering our presence with a commitment to open the first-ever Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO) in Manila, Philippines. Backed by $31.8 million in dedicated funding, this new office will help Canada engage with stakeholders, regulatory counterparts, and policy decision-makers. By deepening our existing relationships with likeminded partners, we can jointly expand our interests in the region.

Throughout his trip, Minister MacAulay spoke of Canada's goal to build on our strong and sustainable business ties in the Indo-Pacific region and promote the products Canada has to offer. He also met with local media in Vietnam and South Korea to promote the Canada Brand and exceptional quality of Canadian products. With more than 160 organizations joining this mission,17 of them from the agricultural sector, the Government of Canada has taken another step forward in making that goal a reality.

"Canada is a global leader in agriculture and agri-food, and our products are the best in the world. It has been an honour to represent Canadian farmers in Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea, and to showcase that quality in person. When I first became Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food in 2015, our agricultural exports were $56 billion. As I return to the portfolio, we've increased that number to over $92 billion. My goal is to continue to grow our exports, and that starts with opening markets and creating opportunities for our hardworking Canadian farmers." 

-       The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food 

• In 2022, Canada's agriculture and agri-food exports to the Indo-Pacific region totalled $21.8 billion. During the 2018-2022 period, our agriculture and agri-food exports to the region expanded by nearly 7%, while our imports from the region have grown by nearly 9%.
• The Indo-Pacific is likely to make up two-thirds of the middle class by 2030, and over half of global GDP by 2040.
• Vietnam became Canada's 19^th largest agriculture and agri-food market globally and 9^th largest in the Indo-Pacific region in 2022.
• In 2022, Canada agriculture and food exports to Japan reached $5.4 billion. That year, Canada was Japan's sixth largest supplier of agriculture and food products.
• South Korea is an important market for Canada's agriculture and food sector. It is home to Canada's first bilateral free trade agreement in the Indo-Pacific.
• The Canada Brand provides Canadian exporters with a stronger international presence by helping them leverage Canada's positive reputation around the world. Export-ready companies can sign-up for free.
• Unveiled in November 2022, the main priorities outlined in Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy include expanding trade, investment and supply chain resilience by strengthening and diversifying Canada's economic partnerships.

• Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan
• Canada Brand Program
• Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy
• Investing in ASEAN to drive growth and create opportunities for Canadians and our partners

• Canada names location for new Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office
• Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy to support growth and prosperity for the agriculture and agri-food sector

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Web:?Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada    

Minister Lawrence MacAulay travelled to Vietnam, Japan and South Korea from October 27 to November 4, 2023. Throughout the visit, the Minister underscored his support for agricultural stakeholders participating in the Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan, as well as in Vietnam and South Korea.

In Seoul, Minister MacAulay announced more than $23 million in funding for agricultural industry stakeholders under the AgriMarketing Program. The recipients are: the Canola Council of Canada, Pulse Canada Association, Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre, Canadian Meat Council, Canada Beef, The Prairie Oat Growers Association, Canadian Pork International and Canadian Pacific Kazunoko Association.

• The AgriMarketing Program is a $129.97 million program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP).
• The program supports national agricultural sectors to increase and diversify exports to international markets and seize domestic market opportunities. The program helps grow the economy by increasing and diversifying Canadian exports of agriculture, agri-food, agri-based products, including fish and seafood, by increasing the visibility of Canadian products and increasing the capacity of exporting producers to identify and seize market development opportunities in targeted markets.
• The Sustainable CAP is a $3.5-billion, 5-year agreement (April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2028), between the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri?food and agri?based products sector. The agreement includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and $2.5 billion in cost-shared programs and activities funded by federal, provincial and territorial governments.

• The Canada Brand provides Canadian exporters with a marketing advantage and a stronger international presence by helping them leverage Canada's positive reputation around the world.
• Canada Brand helps global consumers recognize Canadian food and beverage products and showcases the diverse range of products from our varied landscape from coast to coast to coast.
• Export-ready companies can sign-up for free for the Canada Brand program to gain access to the revamped marketing toolbox, optimized for today's digital-first business environment.

• Vietnam became Canada's 19^th largest market globally and ninth largest in the Indo-Pacific region in 2022.
• Canada exported CA$416.2 million in agriculture and food products to Vietnam in 2022, which expanded by 4.8% annually between 2018 and 2022 (or 20.8% in total).

• Canada is an important agriculture and food supplier for Japan and Japan's sixth largest supplier of imported agriculture and food products in 2022.
• Japan is the third-largest market for Canadian agri-food and seafood products and offers vast opportunities to further increase the volume and diversity of our agriculture and food exports.
• Canada and Japan are both parties to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which entered into force on December 30, 2018. Since then, Canadian agriculture and food exports to Japan increased by 4.2% every year until 2022 (17.8% in total).

• South Korea is an important market for Canada's agriculture and food sector.
• It is home to Canada's first bilateral free trade agreement in the Indo-Pacific.
• Since the entry into force of the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA) in 2015, Canadian agriculture and food exports to South Korea increased by 10.7% annually (or 104.4% in total value) until 2022.
• This growth is notable since Canada's agriculture and food exports to South Korea only expanded by 3.3% annually (or 25.7% in total value) during the eight-year period prior to the ratification of the CKFTA (2008-2015).

SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

News published on 6 november 2023 at 08:38 and distributed by: