Sept. 29, 2011
TORONTO, ONTARIO, (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — In a keynote address at the Devonshire Initiative CEO Summit, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, today announced four new projects that will help developing countries in Africa and South America manage their natural resources to ensure they are a source of long-term sustainable benefits to their people.
“The Canadian extractive industries – in particular mining – are the largest in the world, working in many developing countries that have an abundance of natural resources. Working in partnership with the private sector, these resources can contribute to poverty reduction in many of these countries and improve the standard of living for their populations,” said Minister Oda. “CIDA is supporting Canada’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Strategy for the Canadian International Extractive Sector with initiatives that will contribute to sustainable economic growth, job creation and long-term poverty reduction.”
Today’s announcement includes three pilot projects in collaboration with Canadian partners to reduce poverty in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Ghana, and Burkina Faso.