Minister Fast Visits CPCS Light Rail Project in Nigeria

ABUJA, Nigeria, January 30, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today visited the Abuja Light Rail Project that was planned by CPCS of Ottawa, Ontario. To date, CPCS has successfully completed over 40 projects in Nigeria. The reform of the Nigerian ports sector, led by CPCS, for instance brought more that $700 million investment into the country, which represents more than half of the cumulative total of private port financing ever raised in Sub-saharan Africa. The company is a good example of Canadian expertise helping Nigerians develop their booming economy.

Minister Fast is on a six-day trade mission to Nigeria and Ghana to advance the interests of Canadian businesses in sub-Saharan Africa. Increased trade will in turn create jobs and increased prosperity for all Canadians. Minister Fast is accompanied on the trade mission by representatives of nearly 30 Canadian organizations, most of them operating in the extractive industries and infrastructure sectors.

This first trade mission of 2013, which is being organized by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, is one of several strategically focused, sector-specific missions to fast-growing regions around the world that Minister Fast has led since becoming international trade minister.

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, a part of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, is located in more than 150 cities worldwide and in regional offices across Canada, and is Canada's most extensive network of international business professionals. The Trade Commissioner Service helps companies that are looking to export, invest abroad, attract investment or develop innovation and R & D partnerships.

For more information about Minister Fast's visit to sub-Saharan Africa, please visit Minister Fast's Trade Mission to Africa.