Foreign Affairs committee  The experience here is very different when you're sitting in Canada and watching what is happening in Africa. Right now they have their agenda. Agenda 2063 is one of their flagships for strategic planning for the continent. They have maybe 1,000-plus projects around agriculture, energy and education.

Foreign Affairs committee  It's too early for me to share the specific program, because we're leaning right now on Pan-Af and development programs. Some of them have been running for two or five years. I must say that, on the women's side, we have a project to strengthen entrepreneurship for women. We're doing it with the pan-African countries, with three or four countries at the same time.

Foreign Affairs committee  I will ask my colleague to help me on this, but my first answer is that it's too early in the multilateral environment to choose one or two countries. We have a sense that some countries are doing very well right now, and they can be a pilot for us. I'll let my colleague—

Foreign Affairs committee  —is that African countries and institutions want more Canadian engagement, more investment, more dialogue and more partnerships based on mutual interests. Finally, we have been following the proceedings of the Senate and House committees as they study these issues. Your deliberations are very timely and noticed.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you very much. My last 12 months have been dedicated to consolidating the Canadian presence on both levels, the African Union and the AUC. Our relations are very good with these two institutions right now. There is room for improvement, but we are on track to do something very good with the African Union right now.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes.

Foreign Affairs committee  The mandate was to strengthen the relationship with the African Union. We need to deepen this relationship and engage with all the organizations in the AU. Part of the mandate will be to conduct the three dialogues we're working on right now and make sure that we connect with Agenda 2063 of the African Union and also to mobilize people here in Canada around the country around the strategic view of African development.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Members of the committee, I am honoured to appear before you today, even at this late hour for us. It is 11:00 p.m. for me and 9:00 p.m. for my colleague Michael Callan. We are nonetheless very happy to be here to meet with the members of the committee. My name is Ben Marc Diendéré.