International Trade Minister Edward B. Fast personally visited the Embassy of the Philippines in Ottawa and welcomed Ambassador Garcia to Canada.

Both the undersigned and Minister Fast took stock of the important people-to-people ties between Canada and the Philippines. In addition, they discussed how both countries can continue to deepen trade and investment relations building on solid socio-economic foundations.

Minister Fast also discussed his trade mission to Manila this past July and the many opportunities for Canadian exporters and investors in the Philippines, especially in the agricultural, defence, information and communications technologies and sustainable technologies sectors.

Minister Fast recalled the AEM Roadshow organized by Canada for his counterparts in ASEAN in line with an expanded trade engagement of Canada in the Asia-pacific region.

Minister Fast highlighted the fact that the Philippines was recently added as a priority country under Canada's Global Markets Action Plan (GMAP). According to Minister Fast, the addition illustrates Canada's commitment to expanding its relationship with the Philippines.

Minister Fast looked forward to a positive outcome of the coming 2nd Round of Meeting under the Joint Commission on Bilateral Consultations between the Philippines and Canada this month and the program of action that would arise out of the meetings.

Pursuant to the interest of the Minister to know more about country products of the missions he visits, the meeting provided an occasion to showcase the creative designs of prominent Filipino design artists such Kenneth Cobonpue and Haja Amina Appi.

Minister Fast marvelled at the samples of the creative work of Cobonpue that are being patronized by Hollywood A-listers that are on display at the Chancery -- including the famed Chiquita stool, the CU-C ME partition, the YODA Easy Chair and the KAI ‘O' Floor Lamps.

Minister Fast also admired the meticulous art of master mat-weaving by Hajah Amina Appi from the Sama community in Tawi-Tawi.

In 2013, Canada ranked as 21st largest trading partner of the Philippines. Total bilateral trade grew by 13.2% according to Statistics Canada. END