News Release

Canada supporting farmers in the Philippines

Funding announced to promote skills development and improve access to markets for farmers

Manila, Philippines – Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, on behalf of the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, recently announced Canadian support for a project that will help farmers enhance their business management skills and financial literacy, and access better farming practices and markets for their products.

The Agribusiness development project, to be implemented by the International Finance Corporation, will deliver financial products and services that meet farmers’ needs, facilitate partnerships between the government and the private sector, and design policies, regulations and procedures that will improve the investment climate.

“It is essential to help small farmers grow their businesses and generate profits so that they become important engines of economic growth in their communities”, said Minister Fast. “Canada is proud to help advance the economic opportunities of women and men in the Philippines.”

“In order to raise people out of poverty and put them on the road to prosperity, we must leverage private sector involvement, and foster good governance,” said Minister Paradis. “The private sector is the driving force behind economic growth and is essential to achieving meaningful development outcomes.”

Quick facts

• In 2014, the Philippines was confirmed as a country of focus for Canada’s international development efforts.
• The goal of Canada’s international development assistance program in the Philippines is to support sustainable economic growth by improving the investment climate and advancing economic opportunities.
• When Typhoon Haiyan slammed into the Philippines on November 8, 2013, Canada was already putting in place the pieces that allowed a rapid, life-saving, whole-of-government response in support of the government of the Philippines.