Minister Day Marks 60th Anniversary of Canada-Philippines Relations

Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, marked the 60th anniversary of Canada’s diplomatic relations with the Philippines with a one-day visit to the country, where he promoted Canadian commercial partnerships and paid tribute to Philippine rebuilding efforts after recent floods. Minister Day undertook a number of events to promote economic ties between the two countries. He commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines with the unveiling of a plaque at a speech before an audience of corporate leaders and government officials. During the speech, the Minister announced that Canada is providing $18 million in development assistance to help create better conditions for economic growth and job creation in the Philippines. While in Manila, the Minister also launched Canadian Food Week in the Philippines. This initiative showcases high-quality Canadian food products recently introduced to the Philippines market, such as salmon, king crab and scallops, as well as long-standing imports such as beef and pork.