Canada / Baird and Fast Join Friends of the African Community to Celebrate Africa Day

By Canada - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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Canada / Baird and Fast Join Friends of the African Community to Celebrate Africa Day

OTTAWA, Canada, May 31, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway Ed Fast joined friends of the African community for Ottawa's annual Africa Day celebration at the Government Conference Centre, May 30, 2012. The event is organized by members of the African corps of Ottawa's diplomatic community.

During his remarks, Minister Baird highlighted the common goals of democracy, security and prosperity that bind Canada's long and proud friendship with Africa, and pledged to continue strengthening the Canada-Africa partnership to further advance these goals.

To demonstrate Canada's commitment, Minister Fast announced that the Government of Canada has officially launched foreign investment promotion and protection agreement negotiations with both Benin and Burkina Faso. These agreements will help Africans and Canadians alike invest with greater confidence by providing a more transparent, stable and predictable investment environment.