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Tri-Lateral Working Group Meeting - Mexico - November 16-19, 2006 | |
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| | Final Trip Report
Mission to Mexico
Dates: November 16 – 21, 2006
Purpose of travel:
To attend and participate in the Tri-Lateral Working Group meeting on Rural Development and to meet with key agricultural contacts in Mexico.
Overview:
This was the third meeting of the Rural Development Working Group, established under the umbrella of the Tri-National Agriculture Accord, a forum for representatives from Canadian provinces, the U.S. and Mexican states to address common cross-border agri-food issues and strengthen agricultural trade relations. The Rural Development Working Group is one of three tri-lateral working groups developing action plans and recommendations for initiatives that could be undertaken at the state and provincial level. As a follow-up to the Tri-National Agricultural Accord Meeting that was held in Banff, Alberta in August 2006, the main objective of this meeting was to develop a two-year strategic work plan for the Rural Development Working Group. This trip also provided the opportunity to meet and reconnect with key agricultural contacts in Mexico.
Mission Objectives:
- Follow up on the Tri-National Agriculture Accord and Rural Development Working Group Meeting held in Banff, Alberta in August 2006.
- Work with other Canadian provinces, the United States and Mexico to create opportunities to advance rural development in North America.
- Develop a two-year strategic work plan for the Rural Development Working Group and explore sharing information on rural development efforts.
- Enhance our relationship with key government officials and agricultural contacts in Mexico that have the potential to advance Alberta’s agriculture and agri-food interests.
Results:
- Representatives of the Rural Development Working Group met to review a strategic plan to advance efforts in rural development.
- The 2007 strategic direction for the Rural Development Working Group is to:
- Address sustainable agriculture research and extension programs
- Participate in advancing conservation programs
- Promote agriculture and industry programs
- Create financing and marketing programs
- It was agreed by the Rural Development Working Group that efforts will be continued in regards to bio-energy development and nutritional programs with the objective of setting forth programs for implementation in 2008.
- Met with Felipe Gómez, President, Grupo Vida
- Discussed advantages to Grupo Vida of investing in Alberta, in terms of building production facilities for their ready-to-eat oatmeal and other health products, in order export and serve the Northwest US and Asian markets.
- Met with Kathryn Aleong, Canadian Consul in Guadalajara.
- This meeting was useful in establishing rapport with Ms.Aleong who recently became the new Consul in Guadalajara in August 2006. This was a courtesy call, but also an opportunity for the Minister and the delegation to underline and discuss Alberta interests in Jalisco and western Mexico in the agricultural and agri-food sector with the new Consul.
- The Consul described recent changes at the Consulate (new staff and new offices), and described some of their major initiatives planned for the year.
- Cooperation in the past between the Government of Alberta and the Consulate was acknowledged and future cooperation was discussed.
- Met with Lic. Eduardo Guzmán Solis, President, Agra Services of Canada Inc.
- Discussed possibilities for Agra Services of Canada Inc. to act as a recruiter and screener of temporary foreign workers for the agricultural sector for Alberta.
Delegation:
Doug Horner, Minister
Jason Krips, Executive Assistant to the Minister |
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For more information about the content of this document, contact Annalisa Baer.
This information published to the web on January 15, 2007.
Last Reviewed/Revised on May 31, 2019.
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