The Director General, Dr. Victor Villalobos made an official visit to Ottawa, Canada from June 15 to 19, 2010. He was accompanied by Lars Pira, Director of the Secretariat of External Relations, and Dowlat Budhram, Director of the Secretariat of Planning and Evaluation.  The purpose of the visit was to meet with various Canadian officials to introduce IICA’s Medium Term Plan and its strategy for the agricultural and rural sector of Latin America and the Caribbean for the next four years. 

Meeting with AAFC authorities.

During the visit, the Director General met with several high level persons and senior officials of Canadian Institutions including Minister Gerry Ritz (AAFC), Mr.  Robin Guy (CIDA), Ms. Carole Swan (CFIA), Mr. Jean Lebel (IDRC), and Mr. James Lambert and Ms. Susan Harper (DFAIT).  There were also meetings with the Group of Ambassadors of Latin American countries (GRULA) based in Ottawa; and the High Commissioners of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to Canada.  A reception was held in honour of the Director’s General visit with invitees from the Canadian Government, Academia, and the Private Sector.

 
Dr. Villalobos and Dr. Lebel, from IDRC.

The Director General’s visit was his first official visit to Canada since he took office on January 15 and it was a very successful one. The various institutions indicated their commitment to continue supporting programs that contribute to the sustainable development of agriculture and the rural sector and enhance food security in Latin America and the Caribbean, and expressed their willingness to collaborate with IICA in developing a stronger partnership to address priorities of common interests that are consistent with the Institute’s Medium Term Plan. In this regard, IICA will develop a country strategy for Canada in which the Institute will join efforts with various Canadian institutions to address key areas of the Medium Term Plan.

In discussion with Ms. Harper, from DFAIT.