On Thursday, March 6, 2025, the Canadian Government launched Canada's Africa Strategy: A Partnership for Shared Prosperity and Security.
On the occasion of the launch, a number of stakeholders, including Chamber members, were invited by the Government of Canada to join a briefing with PS Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Invited Chamber members briefly convened for networking and information-sharing, over light refreshments, immediately preceding the briefing. "Aligned with the African Union’s continental blueprint, Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, Canada’s Africa Strategy was developed over a 2-year period through extensive consultations with Canadian and international stakeholders and African partners and stakeholders," noted Global Affairs Canada.
"PS Rob Oliphant effectively described the strategy as the basis for a workplan to which all stakeholders are invited to co-create and deliver as Team Canada," said Paula Caldwell St-Onge, Chair of the Board of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.
The Chair added: "I am delighted so many Chamber members and sponsors have re-committed to their ongoing work across African markets - through economic engagement as businesses, in addition to supporting conference programs open to all Canadian companies and African counterparts. Ongoing discussions on this first-ever Africa Strategy will be included in upcoming conferences in Canada and African markets, to accelerate Canada-Africa trade and investment."
The Chamber encourages all to get involved in the workplan process as it pertains to the role of businesses, and is committed to ongoing information-sharing, in line with our mission, to further the development of commercial ties - through networking and the exchange of best practice and innovation that enables economic prosperity for all.
As a non-partisan business organization, the Chamber also thanks and recognizes all elected leaders - from various parties and economic portfolios - both for their invitations to Chamber members to engage directly, as well as their participation in Chamber events as invited guests. Our members look forward to ongoing engagements on trade and investment, in the context of the private sector's role in market-driven growth.
A number of members directly weighed in, following the briefing with their perspectives, and commitments, in support for Canada's presence in African markets: "We applaud the Honourable Minister Joly, Honourable Minister Ng, Honourable Minister Hussen, and Parliamentary Secretary Rob Oliphant on the launch of Canada’s first Africa Strategy," said Christopher Berschel, CEO of Sealion Cargo Inc, a Chamber member who was among the invitees last week: "This unified direction, underpinned by a long standing partnership and joint cooperation, lays out 5 key foundational pillars that Canadians and the 54 African nations can stand behind, with a joint sense of drive and pride. As the strategy turns to execution, we - together with The Canada Africa Chamber of Business - look forward to active participation in the development of new connections, new trade facilities, and streamlined trade solutions for both imports and exports."
Last week the Chamber was also pleased to announce new upcoming events in Zambia (sponsored by Hatch) and Namibia, among our programs in the year ahead.
Chamber invitees (above) network and their discuss their private sector projects, immediately preceding the Official Government Briefing with PS Rob Oliphant (below), who was joined by Cheryl Urban, Assistant Deputy Minister for Africa 
The Chamber has been serving its members since 1994
Accelerating trade, business and investment between Canada and Africa through world-class networking and information sharing opportunities.
Founded in 1994, the Chamber is based in Toronto with members located throughout Canada and African markets.
The Chamber is an independent and non-partisan Not-for-Profit organization with strong working links with both Canadian and African businesses and governments.
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