Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 75th anniversary of Canada's official bilateral relationship with Peru. Canada and Peru have a long-standing commitment to multilateral co-operation and democratic institutions, most recently, our country's leadership on the crisis in Venezuela through the Lima Group.
Throughout the years, Canada maintained a very close relationship with Peru. In 2017, over $250 million was invested in strong development assistance programming, focused on support for women and girls, indigenous youth and girls and supporting small agribusiness.
Peru is Canada's third-largest bilateral trading partner in Central and South America. Canadian merchandise exports to Peru reached nearly $710 million in 2017, while Canadian merchandise imports from Peru reached $1.8 billion.
Canadian direct investment in Peru totalled $11.1 billion in 2017, mainly in mining, oil and gas, and financial services. Canada also promotes educational and scholarship opportunities in tandem with Peruvian institutions.
Together, let us celebrate the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations with this key player in South America.