New office in Manila, Philippines, is a joint effort between Agriculture Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
The federal government opened Canada’s first Indo-Pacific agriculture office in Manila, Philippines, earlier this month, and farm groups were pleased.
The Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO) is a joint effort between Agriculture Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and is part of a plan to “increase and diversify Canada’s agriculture and agri-food exports to the Indo-Pacific,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a November 2022 news release announcing the initiative.
China, Japan and the Philippines are among Canada’s top pork buyers, Statistics Canada data shows. South Korea and Taiwan are also hefty customers. In recent years, efforts have been also been made to increase sales to Vietnam.
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“This initiative reflects our commitment to strengthening global partnerships and expanding market access for Canadian pork producers,” said Canadian Pork Council chair Rene Roy in a news release.
Other Canadian producer groups also expressed hopes the office would further their sectors’ exports to the region.
“The Indo-Pacific provides a unique opportunity for growth and diversification for Canadian pulses,” said Pulse Canada chair Kevin Auch in the federal news release.
“This office demonstrates the Government of Canada’s support for our sector, proactively breaking down market access barriers and playing a direct role in expanding exports of high-quality, sustainable pulses across the region.”
“The Indo-Pacific region represents both key established markets as well as diversification opportunities for Canadian canola,” Chris Davison, president of the Canola Council of Canada, said in the news release.
“Additional resources and an enhanced and sustained presence in the region are important to advancing both market access and market development efforts to support the growth and competitiveness of our industry and the broader sector,” he added.
Long-time Canadian diplomat Diedrah Kelly was appointed as the office’s first executive director, federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay announced in December.
IPAAO staff are already in Manila, “working with partners to advance shared priorities, such as food security, create mutually beneficial opportunities, build on strong relationships and enhance technical co-operation, market access and trade,” a federal news release said.
