OTTAWA, Canada, May 5, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, will travel to Abuja, Nigeria, on May 5–8, 2014. While in Nigeria, the Minister will participate in the Grow Africa Investment Forum (May 7), the Africa Health Innovation Meeting (May 7), and the World Economic Forum on Africa (May 8). During these forums the Minister will speak to Canada’s leadership and experience in creating jobs, promoting sustainable economic growth, and seeking new partners and innovative financing mechanisms.
Minister Paradis will also speak out on Canada’s top development priority, that of maternal, newborn and child health, and promote Saving Every Woman Every Child: Within Arm’s Reach, an international summit that will shape the future of global action on maternal, newborn and child health issues. The Summit, to be held from May 28 to 30, 2014, in Toronto, will build on Canada’s global leadership and chart the way forward for the next phase of efforts.
On the margins of his visit, Minister Paradis will meet with the Canada-Nigeria Bi-National Commission, which works to advance bilateral cooperation on political, security, trade and development issues. He will also meet with members of the Government of Nigeria to discuss Canada’s commitment to Africa, specifically on sustainable economic development and health.
The Minister will also take the opportunity during his visit to convene his Francophonie colleagues to advance the Canada-led initiative of creating an economic arm of the organization. He will also visit and consult with Canadian businesses and organizations operating in Nigeria.
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