N.B. government announces plan to develop partnerships with 6 African countries

New Brunswick's provincial flag flies in Ottawa on Monday July 6, 2020. (Source: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

The New Brunswick government says it has a new strategy with the goal of developing partnerships with French-speaking countries in Africa.

The strategy focuses on economic development, education and training, immigration and labour recruitment and diplomatic relations.

The following countries have been identified as a priority for the strategy:

• Morocco
• Ivory Coast
• Benin
• Cameroon
• Senegal
• Tunisia

The province, along with some organizations and private sector businesses, are already active in several of the above countries.

“We will promote exchanges with these six countries while further exploring possibilities and progressively expanding the collaboration to other francophone African countries,” said Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin, who is also the minister responsible for La Francophonie, in a provincial news release.

“We share a common language and common values, and this will foster the development of mutually beneficial institutional and academic partnerships. By taking advantage of our collective strengths, we can build a partnership that will lead to a better future for all.”

The Department of Intergovernmental Affairs will be responsible for coordinating and monitoring the strategy along with several partners.

There is an estimated 176 million people within 31 countries and territories in francophone Africa.

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