Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada’s Post

Canada and Italy enjoy a robust commercial relationship, with significant opportunities in mutual investments and partnerships in innovation and technology. This trade is supported by the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), provisionally in effect since September 21, 2017. In 2023, the total trade in goods and services between the two countries reached $15.3 billion, with cereals, pharmaceutical products, and aircraft and parts being Canada's top exports to Italy.

Happening in Accra, Ghana: ECOSOCC is holding a High-Level Technical Consultative Forum on Free Movement in Africa. The two day Forum is meant to explore the challenges causing the low ratification of the Free Movement Protocol (FMP) and enhance the political and technical will and capacity of AU Member States for its ratification and domestication in Africa. The forum is expected to culminate into the formulation of a joint declaration expressing the commitment and support of political decision-makers from AU Member States for the ratification of the FMP; and the creation of a plan outlining specific initiatives and actions that the AU must undertake to enhance the technical capacity of Member States for the effective implementation of the FMP. See below some highlights of the opening remarks by Wiliam Carew, Head of ECOSOCC Secretariat: “The adoption of the African Union Free Movement Protocol (FMP) stands as a testament to our collective aspirations for continental integration and economic prosperity. Rooted in the landmark African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, the FMP represents a beacon of hope, illuminating the path towards a more interconnected and prosperous Africa. Yet, as we embark on this journey, we must acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead. With only four countries having ratified the protocol thus far, we are confronted with the imperative to bridge the gap between aspiration and action. Firstly, we aim to formulate a joint declaration that demonstrates the commitment and support of political decision-makers from AU member states for the ratification of the FMP. Secondly, this declaration will serve as a tangible demonstration of increased political will towards this end. And finally, we will work towards creating a detailed plan outlining specific initiatives and actions that the AU must undertake to enhance the technical capacity of member states for the effective implementation of the FMP. Special thanks to the #OpenSocietyFoundation for making this meeting happen, as without their generosity, we would not be meeting in Ghana today.” The adoption of the FMP emerged as a strategic response to the imperative of fostering continental integration and propelling economic development across Africa. The FMP is the legal recognition by AU Member States of the interconnectedness of regional integration and socioeconomic advancement; thus, it seeks to eliminate barriers to free movement, including visa requirements, and harmonise immigration policies among African nations. By doing so, it aims to unlock the vast economic potential inherent in the collaborative efforts of African nations, promoting trade, investment, and collaboration. #AfricanUnion #ECOSOCC20 #OpenSocietyFoundations #JeggenGrey-ulmson #NiKiweKaunda #BrianKagoro #SandraMaynard #NoziphoNdebele #BonoloMakgale

In this scholarly article, I present an academic viewpoint regarding President William Ruto's visa-free for all visitors' policy prescription. The article lists countries that have almost similar policies, and discusses the potential benefits of the policy to the country, and concludes by suggesting that its implementation should be aligned with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA). READ: https://rb.gy/l6hyhm

🔔UPDATE: #China announced on June 25 that during the period from July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025, holders of ordinary passports from #NewZealand, #Australia, and #Poland can stay in #China for 15 days without a visa for business, travel, or visiting friends and relatives. With the support of the visa-free policy, we expect to see more companies from the three countries join #CIIE2024 and further explore the myriad market opportunities! #ExpectGoodReturns Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) , Investment NSW, Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), Australia China Business Council, China Chamber of Commerce in Australia (CCCA), VGTI China - Victorian Government Trade and Investment China, Trade and Investment Queensland, Department for Trade and Investment

🇪🇺Happy #EuropeDay, fellow explorers! Today, we commemorate the Schuman Declaration of 1950, a pivotal moment that laid the foundation for the European Union as we know it today. One of the critical aspects of today’s EU is the freedom of movement, which allows Europeans to travel and work freely across the member states. For non-Europeans, the Schengen Visa has made exploring Europe more accessible than ever. With it, you can visit any Schengen country of your choice. 📅However, don’t forget that you still need to follow the 90/180 rule for your short-term stays. Below is a handy guide to the rule and how it works. You can enhance your day counting further with Daysium. Our platform lets you define the rulesets that matter to you and automates the logging of your day count. It’s simple, fast and secure. 🎉So, go ahead and explore everything the unique and diverse European countries offer with the confidence that your day counting will be accurate. #Daysium #DayCounting #Schengen #TaxCompliance

Capped the end of a busy week by meeting Andrii Romanchuk from the Association of Ukranian Business in Poland (Zrzeszenie ukraińskiego biznesu w Polsce), a group which is dedicated to improving business ties between 🇵🇱🇺🇦 , Ukraine, and soon 🇨🇦! We had a long discussion about the vast potential for #triangularcooperation between our three countries, citing examples such as the Canadian-owned ASTARTA, one of Ukraine's biggest agricultural companies that's listed on the Warsaw stock exchange, and the joint engagement of Canadian and Polish investors on Drone production. A frank discussion was also had about the challenges of doing business (something which is honestly not talked about enough, because how else can you discuss solutions!), including corruption, border blockades, sanctions evasion, labour shortages, making payments to Ukranian companies who are still officially registered within the Temporarily Occupied Territories, and the shortage of skilled labour in Ukraine. However, Andrii shared a vision that I found quite powerful. Many Poles emigrated in the 90s and 2000s, but with EU accession and Poland's continuing economic miracle, more and more Poles, including from Canada are returning, bringing with them valuable experiences, skills and linguistic abilities, all critical things for the modern economy. Let's work together to make this vision come true. For our part, the Government of Canada is working on a number of things to make this a reality. 1) The modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement. Vira Savchenko recently did a great analysis on how this will be a gamechanger ⬇ https://acesse.one/jhuFn 2) Our Trade Minister Mary Ng has committed to visiting Ukraine this year 3) Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) will be leading another Canada Pavilion at the ReBuild Ukraine Expo/Conference this November in Ukraine. We are very excited to be partnering with the Canada Ukraine Chamber of Commerce on this! 4) Export Development Canada | Exportation et développement Canada continues to offer insurance to Canadian companies wishing to do business in Ukraine. 5) The Trade Commissioner Service | Service des délégués commerciaux at Embassy of Canada to Ukraine | Ambassade du Canada en Ukraine (Ielyzaveta Zhuravska, Yury Mardak Olesya Sheremok ) and us in Poland remain committed to helping you grow your business. Ielyzaveta Zhuravska , Katarzyna Piliszek-Kaminska, CITP/FIBP, and Ewa Cichocka are also working on a #SmartCities mission in conjunction with Ukranian cities to Poland in Autumn! Because if you think of Ukraine, think Poland, and if you're thinking about Poland, think about Ukraine. #Strongertogether 💪 #Razemsilniejsi #Разомсильніше

Canada introduced a new free trade agreement with Ukraine On July 5, 2024, Canada introduced new instructions for businesspersons under the Canada–Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA). Provisions allowing temporary entry of businesspersons took effect on July 1, 2024. The categories include business visitors, intracompany transfers, investors, and professionals. The CUFTA allows work permit applications to be assessed under paragraph 204(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), part of the International Mobility Program (IMP). This agreement aims to strengthen economic ties between the two countries by facilitating easier movement for business professionals and encouraging investment opportunities.

Looking to do business in the European Union (EU)? The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) offers significant advantages for Canadian companies, including streamlined temporary entry for business purposes. CETA’s temporary entry provisions are designed to support your international growth by facilitating entry for businesspersons such as investors, independent professionals, contractual service suppliers, and more. Learn about the temporary entry benefits and access our country-specific guides here: https://ow.ly/YTiH50SCAeH #CETA #Trade #Export #FTA Embassy of Canada in France | Ambassade du Canada en France Embassy of Canada to Germany | Ambassade du Canada en Allemagne Embassy of Canada to Romania, Bulgaria & Moldova|Ambassade du Canada en Roumanie, Bulgarie & Moldova Embassy of Canada to Spain | Ambassade du Canada en Espagne Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada

Check out these new CETA temporary entry guides which offer practical information to businesses on how to navigate temporary entry processes into 17 EU countries.