Trade, security key discussions
CARTAGENA, Colombia — Prime Minister Stephen Harper boasted Friday there has been “tremendous growth” in Canadian trade and investment in Latin America since his party took power six years ago.
He made the comment shortly after he arrived here for a weekend summit of Western Hemisphere political leaders.
Harper is attending the Summit of the Americas, a conference of leaders from 34 nations.
This year’s summit will touch on a wide range of issues such as economic development, reducing poverty, natural disaster preparations, fighting crime, and promoting trade through major infrastructure projects.
In advance of the politicians formally launching their summit on Saturday, a group of about 200 senior businessmen from the Western Hemisphere held a summit Friday.
Shortly after his arrival here, Harper met with the Canadian chief executive officers in one session, and then held a similar discussion with businessmen at a roundtable sponsored by the United States Chamber of Commerce.
Since taking office, the Harper government has proclaimed repeatedly that it wants to bolster political and trade relations with other nations in the Western Hemisphere.
In 2007, when Harper made his first official trip to Latin America, he touted a new “Americas Strategy” that had three aims: to increase economic prosperity, promote democracy and enhance security by fighting organized crime.