OTTAWA, Canada – Mélanie Joly, minister of foreign affairs, Mary Ng, minister of export promotion, international trade and economic development, and Ahmed Hussen, minister of international development, will meet African Union Commission (AUC) leadership for the second annual Canada-AUC high-level dialogue on November 7, 2024.
On November 6, minister Ng will attend a high-level event at the Canada-AUC Trade Policy Dialogue. The events will take place in Toronto, Ontario.
During the high-level dialogue events, the ministers will reaffirm Canada’s commitment to deepening its engagement across the African continent. They will meet with representatives of the AUC and the African Union (AU), senior officials, stakeholders from civil society and diasporas and youths to strengthen ties and create opportunities across the African continent. They will also discuss shared priorities, such as promoting peace and security, democracy and human rights, trade diversification and gender equality and tackling food security.
On November 7, minister Joly will participate in meetings to discuss how Canada and the AUC can work together within multilateral institutions on shared objectives. The minister will also highlight Canada’s desire to build further upon the 70 years of its relations with African countries as a reliable and trusted partner in advancing shared priorities and fostering mutual prosperity with African countries; and also underscore the important role of Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security in supporting and fostering the role of young women in civil society.
Minister Ng will co-chair an economic cooperation session with Albert Muchanga, the AUC’s Commissioner for Trade and Industry, to advance Canada-AUC trade policy collaboration and promote 2-way trade and investment diversification. The minister will take the opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Canada and Africa and chart a path forward to shared economic prosperity and resilience. Minister Ng will also explore ways to expand and diversify Canada-Africa trade and investment partnerships that will benefit businesses, economies and people in Canada and Africa.
Minister Hussen will emphasize Canada’s commitment to fostering development partnerships, grounded in its Feminist International Assistance Policy, that benefit both Canada and Africa. The minister will lead discussions with AUC representatives that focus on Canada and Africa working closely together on trade, gender equality and skills development for youth. Minister Hussen will also underscore Canada’s collaborative approach to maternal health, child nutrition, climate resilience and sustainable agriculture, reinforcing Canada’s dedication to supporting resilient African communities and inclusive economic growth across the continent.
Throughout the high-level dialogue, the three ministers will leverage the talented and energetic African youth population, which is playing an important leadership role across the continent.
The long-standing relationship between Canada and the AUC will be -enhanced with the signing of a memorandum of understanding. A solid partnership between Canada and Africa is fundamental to advancing shared priorities and fostering the mutual prosperity of Canadians and Africans alike.
Quick facts
- Canada has maintained relationships in Africa for more than 70 years. Canada collaborates with the African Union (AU) and its member states in a variety of multilateral forums, such as the G20, the Commonwealth, La Francophonie and the United Nations.
- In the last five years, the value of 2-way merchandise trade between Canada and the African continent increased from around $10 billion to more than $16 billion.
- In 2023, the value of Canada’s merchandise trade with African countries totalled $16.3 billion.
- In fiscal year 2022 to 2023, Canada provided $4.1 billion in international assistance to the African continent, including through multilateral organizations and Canadian and African partners.
- permanent member, supporting the AU’s aspiration, stated in its Agenda 2063, of being an “active and equal participant in global affairs [and] multilateral institutions.”
- In February 2020, prime minister Justin Trudeau met Moussa Faki Mahamat, the AU’s Chairperson, on the margins of the 33rd AU Summit, in Ethiopia. They agreed to begin a series of high-level dialogues to provide a more structured and regular platform to advance shared priorities between Canada and the AU.
- As part of its engagement with Africa, Canada sought and achieved accreditation as a permanent observer to the AU in 2009. In 2023, Canada opened a dedicated permanent observer mission to the AU and appointed an ambassador and permanent observer.
