Objective 3: Advance Global Interests

Facilitate International Development

Promote Environmental Stewardship Facilitate Indigenous Peoples' Partnerships Advance Francophone Opportunities Facilitate International Development Strengthen Safety & Security

Manitobans enjoy a quality of life that is the envy of many. We have an obligation as caring members of our global community to share our experience and good fortune with the world.

The Province is committed to the principles of democratic governance and social development, and has a responsibility to foster these principles around the globe. It is important that development efforts balance economic progress with the equally important social objectives of poverty alleviation, strengthened labour standards and enhanced environmental protections.

An example of international leadership is the support the Province provides through an annual grant to the Manitoba Council for International Co-operation (MCIC), which promotes international development through overseas projects and development education in Manitoba. In addition to the annual grant, the Province selected the MCIC to distribute provincial funding for relief and reconstruction efforts in response to the tsunami disaster in southern Asia. The Province's 30-year partnership with the MCIC's supports the perspective that international development work needs a long-term commitment to ensure sustainable assistance to developing nations.

The Province also fosters democratic governance and social development by working with the Government of Canada to strengthen international approaches to sustainable development, environmental protection, and social progress.

The mandate of the Government of Canada's Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is to support sustainable development in developing countries, to reduce poverty and contribute to a more secure, equitable, and prosperous world.

The Province participates in CIDA-funded international development projects by contributing the expertise of its public servants to help governments in developing countries increase their own capacity to ensure that their:

• people and communities have access to health care, clean water and safe food;
• children have opportunities to learn; and
• communities can prosper through sustainable economic development and overcome the challenges of diseases like HIV/AIDS.

The Province is twinned with the North West Province of South Africa in a relationship that focuses on good governance, public sector capacity building and economic development. As a result of this twinning arrangement, North West is adopting significant aspects of Manitoba' sustainable economic development plan, the Healthy Child Manitoba program, and our sustainable agriculture initiatives. The Province also is working to support good governance and capacity development in the Philippines, and has been assisting Trinidad & Tobago to develop its capacity for social and government programs.

Over the years, provincial government staff have participated in many international development projects. This has earned the Province an international reputation for excellence in a wide range of areas, such as public service human resource management, environmental impact assessment, forest and water stewardship and management, emergency management response systems, sustainable agriculture techniques, social programming, and effective and efficient government financial systems. These contributions demonstrate our commitment to helping other countries build the public services they want and need. Our efforts are intended to help improve quality of life, build economies, strengthen democracies, and break the cycle of poverty.

These projects not only help developing countries strengthen governance and delivery capacities, they also benefit provincial government employees, who gain valuable international experience to relate to their work at home.

Furthermore, we cannot underestimate that participation in international development projects contributes to Manitoba's international profile; we are building future trade opportunities and inroads to emerging markets. Participating in international development projects allows us to sustain and increase our presence in these markets and develop relationships that may lead to future exports as the economies of these developing countries grow.

The World Bank estimates that, if future trends continue, by 2020, the Chinese economy alone could be 40% larger than that of the United States, and the economy of India will be larger than Germany's. For international business, the implications of this changing economic landscape are clear; many of tomorrow's economic and trade opportunities may be found in the developing world today.

Annually, the six International Financial Institutions (IFIs) loan about U.S.$38 billion to developing countries for social and economic development projects. Canadian companies have historically won over $1 billion worth in project contracts. Through Canada International Development Agency's (CIDA) projects, some 2,000 Canadian businesses have made connections in some of the world's fastest growing markets, and more than 35,000 jobs have been generated in Canada.

The Province established the International Projects Initiative to help Manitoba-based companies and organizations pursue international development projects. A key approach is to create consortia and partnerships (which include private and public sector organizations) to provide the breadth of expertise and resources to tackle complex international projects. An example of this kind of private-public partnership is the Energy Services Alliance of Manitoba (ESAM), which is dedicated to the development and use of sustainable sources of energy around the world. By pooling their expertise and capabilities, the members of ESAM can be more successful in bidding on international projects than they could individually. Consortia are being developed and growing in other sectors such as environmental industries and general management consulting.

The International Projects Initiative is also active in nurturing relationships with the six International Financial Institutions and with CIDA. In fact, the World Bank has invited the International Projects Initiative to be part of its Private Sector Liaison Officer (PSLO) network, which gives the Province priority access to World Bank information and enhances our ability to help our companies and organizations pursue projects funded by the World Bank.

Strategic Actions

The Government of Manitoba will:

• As a responsible global citizen, continue to support Canada's international obligations by contributing the considerable expertise that exists within provincial departments to our partners in the developing world.

• Enhance the potential of the International Projects Initiative based on the following principles:
  • activities will be consistent with the Action Strategy for Economic Growth, the Community Economic Development framework, the Innovation Strategy, the Northern Development Strategy and will reflect the goals and objectives of the Government of Canada's international development programs and services;
  • activities will build upon and support, wherever possible, our efforts to enhance trade and investment, immigration and international education and, therefore, will be developed in close consultation with relevant government, business and educational interests;
  • where appropriate, private-public partnerships will be considered, if necessary, to increase Manitoba-based companies' abilities to be successful in bidding on international projects, building upon their respective expertise and the relationships they each have built in the international arena; and
  • the Province's involvement in the International Projects Initiative will, over time, become self-financing.
• Work with Manitoba businesses, consultants, service providers, educational institutions and departments to:
  
  
  • enhance their awareness of the opportunities that international projects present;
  • advise them of specific project opportunities and the strategies for pursuing those projects successfully; and
  • define our niche capabilities and develop alliances / consortia and public / private partnerships around these capabilities to maximize success rates in bidding for international projects.

• Continue to ensure trade and investment rules promote environmental, health, safety, and labour standards.

• Work with International Financial Institutions, including the World Bank, and federal agencies, such as CIDA, to increase awareness of Manitoba's capabilities and to maintain a current understanding of existing funding sources and processes for accessing funds.

• Develop public sector and private sector partnerships in recipient countries.

• Develop an international project management capacity and consolidate existing project management functions in government.

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