Foreign Affairs committee  It is up to the government to choose the country and decide how it will proceed. I would like to come back to something that Mr. Akuffo said about regional economic communities, or RECs. We see RECs that work very well together. Kenya is a member of the East African Community, whose member countries offer more security, for the most part, which means that companies want to go to that region.

Foreign Affairs committee  I can name a few countries that have approached us that really want to do business. We just had something in Kenya—

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes. There is Kenya that approached us. We had a business conference there. We went to the D.R.C., where we have Canadian mining interests as well as other interests in the southern part of the country. We were in South Africa. Obviously it's always a starting point, because there we have investments into Canada from South Africa.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes, we are. They're our members, so we support them, and we have had business conferences. We're now going to have our fourth business conference in September in Zimbabwe, and it's a private sector response. That's who funds us. We also have Morocco, so that's of interest. The Business Council of Canada will be going to Nigeria a little later on.

Foreign Affairs committee  I'm retired. I'm not speaking on behalf of Global Affairs, Mr. Chair. China, as everyone knows, is in the long game. They've been there before anybody else. They've been there for 30 or 35 years. It's always about getting in the game early. We were in the game, as Dr. Akuffo said, and now we just have to get back to it.

Foreign Affairs committee  If I may, I would like to answer the question to add to what Mr. Akuffo said. The question was how we can address what we are calling the synergy between trade, diplomacy and development. The cornerstone of any investment is of course always said to be security. That is the base.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes.

Foreign Affairs committee  Certainly, we can send you details in writing later. I would say that we really have to focus on Canada's strengths, among which are financial technologies, green technologies, agriculture, education and the mining industry. We first have to look at where our strengths lie, and then look at the fields where Africa wants to establish partnerships with us.

Foreign Affairs committee  First, as chair of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, I'd like to thank you, Mr. Chair, for inviting us to speak. I will pass it on over to Garreth.