The Canadian Pork Council joined federal ag minister Lawrence MacAulay in Manila, Philippines, to open Canada’s first Indo-Pacific agriculture office, it said today, calling the opening a “pivotal moment” for the Canadian pork sector.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to strengthening global partnerships and expanding market access for Canadian pork producers,” said CPC chair Rene Roy in a news release.
The Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO) is a joint effort between Agriculture Agri-food Canada (AAFC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is part of a plan to “increase and diversify Canada’s agriculture and agri-food exports to the Indo-Pacific,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a November 2022 news release announcing the initiative.
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China, Japan and the Philippines are among Canada’s top pork buyers, StatCan data shows. Korea and Taiwan are also hefty customers. In recent years, efforts have been also been made to increase sales to Vietnam.
Other Canadian producer groups also expressed hopes the office would further their sectors’ exports to the region.
“The Indo-Pacific provides a unique opportunity for growth and diversification for Canadian pulses,” said Pulse Canada chair Kevin Auch in the federal news release. ” This office demonstrates the Government of Canada’s support for our sector proactively breaking down market access barriers and playing a direct role in expanding exports of high-quality, sustainable pulses across the region.”
“The Indo-Pacific region represents both key established markets as well as diversification opportunities for Canadian canola,” said Chris Davison, president of the Canola Council of Canada in the release.
“Additional resources and an enhanced and sustained presence in the region are important to advancing both market access and market development efforts to support the growth and competitiveness of our industry and the broader sector,” he added.
Long-time Canadian diplomat Diedrah Kelly was appointed as the office’s first executive director, MacAulay announced in December.
IPAAO staff are already in Manila, “working with partners to advance shared priorities, such as food security, create mutually beneficial opportunities, build on strong relationships and enhance technical cooperation, market access and trade,” a federal news release said today.
