Mélanie Joly, Canada’s Foreign Minister, announced today that Maninder Sidhu, Parliamentary Secretary to the Foreign Minister, will travel to Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana from July 2-7, 2023.
A statement from the Canadian High Commissioner said that Sidhu will represent Canada at the opening ceremony of the 45th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) during his visit to Trinidad and Tobago.
During his stay, he will also meet with Amery Browne, Secretary of State for Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, and Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds, to discuss shared political and economic priorities, including expanding trade and investment and regional security. In addition, Parliamentary Secretary of State Sidhu will participate in a networking round table event to learn more about the opportunities and challenges for Canadian businesses in Trinidad and Tobago.
During his visit to Guyana, Sidhu will meet with Hugh Todd, Guyana’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to strengthen the two countries’ cooperation on common priorities, including energy transition and food security.
Through meetings with key political and commercial stakeholders, the Parliamentary Secretary will also gain a better understanding of Guyana’s economic situation and its opportunities for Canadian businesses. In addition, the press release said he will have the opportunity to visit local projects supporting migrants and early childhood development in indigenous communities, funded by the Caribbean Regional Development Program and the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives.
Sidhu said in the press release, “Canada and CARICOM are bound by our close people-to-people ties, shared economic interests, and our commitment to shared values such as democracy, human rights, freedom of expression, and the rules-based international order.” I am pleased to represent Canada at the CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago to mark CARICOM’s 50th anniversary. I also look forward to strengthening our bilateral relationship with Guyana as we commit to working together on shared priorities such as inclusive economic growth, food security and natural resource management.”
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