Canada announces the formation of an advisory committee as it continues to work on the new and refreshed Indo-pacific strategy.
The advisory committee is “tasked with providing independent perspectives and recommendations”. The committee comprises three co-chairs, 11 members and three advisors to the co-chairs.
Canada “recognises that the Indo-Pacific region is critically important for the long-term prosperity, health and security of Canadians”, its foreign ministry said.
“We live in a world with increasing threats to global stability. For the benefit of both the people of the region and Canadians, Canada is actively investing in the Indo-Pacific region to support a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific that contributes to a rules-based international order,” it added.
“The co-chairs include Janice Gross Stein, a pre-eminent global affairs expert and the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. Also present is Pierre Pettigrew, former Minister of Foreign Affairs. The third co-chair is Indian-origin Farah Mohamed, chief operating officer of Canada’s Forest Trust Corporation.
The members include Frank McKenna, former Canadian ambassador to the United States, and former leader of the Conservative Party Rona Ambrose. Also included is Kasi Rao, originally from India, and presently managing director of Fairfax Consulting Services India Ltd, a Canadian company focused on investment opportunities in India. Earlier, he was the president and chief executive officer of the Canada-India Business Council.”-Hindustan Times.
