He Canadian Council for the Americas (CCA), an independent business and non-governmental entity, presented in Dominican Republic a new strategy aimed at creating and strengthening links between Canada and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The initiative: “Beyond construction: A new strategy canadian for Latin America and the Caribbean” was presented last Thursday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mirex) during a panel that brought together representatives of the public sector and private.
- The initiative highlights the regional potential to connect both countries in areas of tradeinvestment, infrastructure and strengthening of value chains.
In interview with Free Diarythe president of the CCA, Kenneth N. Frankelexplained that the proposal seeks to establish concrete links based on four axles: tradenatural resources (mining), security and migration.
What the initiative proposes
In tradethe strategy proposes consortia led by Canadian companies together with local partnersas well as technical support to facilitate the participation of small and medium-sized companies in infrastructure, manufacturing, clean energy and export projects.
While on the miningproposes creating links of cooperation for the transfer of knowledge and canadian technology in mineral processing and mineral traceability and the participation of the countries of the region in stages of greater added value within global supply chains.
Regarding migration, the strategy proposes using it as a tool of hemispheric cooperationthrough regulated labor migration routes that connect Latin American talent with the needs of the Canadian labor market.
In the area of security, the initiative incorporates measures aimed at protecting the trade and the supply chainsincluding the strengthening of ports and trade corridors, cooperation against organized crime and illicit trafficking, as well as the development of cybersecurity capabilities.
In the Dominican case, Frankel indicated that they seek to ensure that the main points to be developed in the first instance are the trade and the responsible mining, and then the others are addressed.
He noted that the objective is to facilitate commercial exchange, technically support companies and promote projects infrastructure and export, especially in agricultural and manufactured products.
RD, first country elected
Dominican Republic was chosen as the first country to present the initiative due to his stabilityits productive structure, which, according to Frankelallows the development of projects that can later be replicated in other countries in the region.
On your side, Eric Millerpresident of Rideau Potomac Strategy Group, highlighted that the strategy seeks to connect companies and governments through concrete examples, such as the export of agricultural goods, the development of infrastructure and the strengthening of brands, in addition to supporting the businessmen in technical aspects of trade international.
Miller noted that the size of the dominican market facilitates the creation of pilot projects that allow testing methodologies without the complexity of larger economies, but with enough size for important initiatives
Frankel indicated that the strategy has generated interest in other countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, although Dominican Republic was the first to extend the formal invitation to present the proposal.
What is the next step?
After the presentation at Mirex, Frankel explained that the next step the thing is businessmen and authorities of the country study the strategy and evaluate how to translate those links into concrete projects.
The Dominican ambassador to Canada also participated during the interview, Jose Blancowho highlighted the interest of the public sector and private in advancing the creation of links with Canada in areas such as free trade, responsible mining and tourism.
Frankel stated that Canada seeks to expand and deepen its trade relations beyond its traditional partners and that Latin America and the Caribbean represent an important opportunity for Canada.
- He pointed out that the initiative pursues an approach of benefit “win-win” by allowing Canada to expand its regional connections and Dominican Republic benefit from greater openness canadian market.
