The Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), is concluding engagements in Ireland, Bangladesh and Thailand this week that strengthened economic partnerships, unlocked new opportunities for collaboration and advanced global development objectives for Canada and global communities.
Secretary of State Sarai announced $130 million for five projects to advance long-term, inclusive growth opportunities across the Indo-Pacific region in areas including agriculture, entrepreneurship and financial institutions. These projects reflect Canada's commitment to supporting women's economic empowerment, investing in mutual prosperity that uplifts the most vulnerable and increasing market access for Canadian companies across the Indo-Pacific.
At the Informal Meeting of the EU Ministers of Development, in Dublin, Ireland, Secretary of State Sarai shared Canada's perspective on development priorities, including the need to better align financing with development outcomes and strengthen partnerships to improve the effectiveness of international assistance. While there, he met with European development ministers to advance Canada-EU strategic cooperation, including support for Ukraine as well as greater economic security and resilience.
In Bangladesh, Secretary of State Sarai met with state officials, including Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, reaffirming Canada's commitment to investing in bilateral trade and building a mutually prosperous economic relationship with Bangladesh.
During visits to Canadian-supported initiatives in Dhaka and Cox's Bazar, Secretary of State Sarai saw how Canada's investments are expanding access to education and skills training, advancing health innovation and supporting Rohingya refugees. These initiatives include an education and skills training project for youth implemented by BRAC, a Bangladesh-based international development organization, and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Mohakhali.
He also visited an agricultural demonstration site to see how Canadian support and innovations with local communities can help improve food security, build climate resilience, modernize agriculture and create financial opportunities for local farmers, while also opening doors for Canadian agri-tech industries.
In Thailand, Secretary of State Sarai participated in the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG). He championed the institutions' work on inclusive economic growth, strengthening partnerships and supporting efforts to scale investment to help bridge the development finance gap.
At the Toronto Centre's executive panel session entitled, "Under Pressure: Building Resilient Financial Systems in a Fragmenting World," Secretary of State Sarai underscored Canada's role in supporting resilient financial systems as a foundation for sustainable development and the importance of mobilizing public and private capital to unlock investments in emerging markets.
Secretary of State Sarai announced a loan to Muangthai Capital, provided by FinDev Canada. This loan will support the growth of women-owned micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in rural Thailand, where many women continue to face barriers to accessing the financial resources they need to succeed.
He participated in the G7 Development Ministers' Meeting to discuss progress since the 81st UN General Assembly toward the development goals. He also held bilateral discussions with counterparts from partner countries and representatives from multilateral organizations and international financial institutions to advance shared priorities, deepen cooperation and scale development impact.
Secretary of State Sarai concluded his time in Thailand with a visit to Bangkok's Benjakitti Forest Park to showcase Canadian contributions to advancing climate resilience and sustainable agriculture through a project implemented by Thammasat University.
Across Ireland, Bangladesh and Thailand, Secretary of State Sarai's engagements strengthened global partnerships that link development cooperation with inclusive economic growth, highlighted Canada's support for the most vulnerable and helped create mutually beneficial opportunities for Canadian businesses and communities around the world.
