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Canadian investments in the Indo-Pacific and G20 priorities – Prime Minister of Canada

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Canada is announcing the following investments to strengthen its engagement in the Indo-Pacific region and in support of key areas of focus at the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia.

Supporting sustainable infrastructure

Infrastructure Support (Indo-Pacific Strategy)

Funding: $750 million in paid-in capital for FinDev Canada

Canada will bring its development finance institution, FinDev Canada, to the Indo-Pacific region, to help support sustainable infrastructure needs. This will contribute to the availability of and access to essential services that improve lives, connect people, spur economic growth, and contribute to cleaner future. Canada’s approach will offer a transparent and inclusive development model that focuses on quality infrastructure and financial sustainability. Canada’s contribution will help reduce poverty, build climate resilience, advance gender equality, and promote the economic development of economies and communities to benefit everyone.

Protecting the environment and fighting climate change

Nature-based Solutions for Climate-smart Livelihoods in Mangrove Landscapes in Indonesia

Funding: $20 million

Mangroves are one of the most productive and biologically complex ecosystems on earth and play a key role in supporting livelihoods in vulnerable coastal communities in Indonesia. This initiative will support the restoration of 33,000 hectares of degraded mangrove ecosystems and protect 5,000 hectares of intact mangroves in two of the country’s provinces– North and East Kalimantan – with a focus on storing carbon to help fight climate change. It will also promote the design and implementation of reforms to better incentivize the restoration and protection of mangrove ecosystems.

Flood Impacts, Carbon Pricing and Ecosystem Sustainability – FINCAPES

Funding: $15 million

In line with the environment and climate action priorities outlined in Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, this project will support Indonesia’s efforts to scale-up its climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in key areas, in response to rising sea levels, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss. It will support research to better inform and drive action toward strengthening flood adaptation and mitigation efforts, help protect and restore 300 hectares of mangroves and 500 hectares of peatlands, and support the strengthening of climate change policy frameworks through academic partnership, including the creation of a center of excellence for research and development on climate change policy.

Oceans for Prosperity funding

Funding: $10 million

This funding will support the Oceans for Prosperity initiative, which aims to improve the sustainable management of coral reef ecosystems and strengthen the resilience of local communities in Indonesia. Specifically, Canada’s contribution will help strengthen ecosystem-based and participative management of marine protected areas and coral reef fisheries, including by improving climate adaptation and mitigation measures. It will also facilitate the growth of micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises in marine protected areas by improving access to markets, information, and financial services, addressing gender disparities in natural resource management decision-making, and creating economic opportunities for local communities.

Enabling Blue Carbon in Indonesia

Funding: $3 million

Coastal and marine ecosystems, including mangroves, tidal marshes, and sea grasses, store more carbon – “blue carbon” – than forests on land. This project will help Indonesia restore its blue carbon ecosystems to better adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change and achieve its sustainable development goals. To this effect, this investment will support the full integration of blue carbon ecosystems into Indonesia’s national development and climate change strategies through technical assistance, training and capacity building, and knowledge sharing.

Protecting people’s health

Financial Intermediary Fund for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (Pandemic Fund)

Funding: $50 million

Canada is committing $50 million to the new Pandemic Fund – a key G20 initiative hosted by the World Bank – to address critical gaps in pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response at national, regional, and global levels. This will include funding for areas such as disease surveillance, laboratory systems, the health workforce, emergency communications and management, and community engagement.

CanGIVE – mRNA Hub – Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) – COVID-19 mRNA Technology Transfer and Manufacturing Hub Program

Funding: $15 million

Canada is allocating an additional $15 million in funding to the COVID-19 mRNA Technology Transfer and Manufacturing Hub program. This builds on $15 million in Canadian funding announced at the G20 Summit in 2021, as part of Canada’s commitment to addressing underlying barriers to equitable access of vaccines. Canada’s additional support will help advance the work of the hub for COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in South Africa, facilitate technology transfer, develop second-generation mRNA technology and an mRNA vaccine pipeline for COVID-19 and other diseases, and enhance the capacity of a network of manufacturing facilities in Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya, and Bangladesh.

CanGIVE – mRNA hub – Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) – COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Manufacturing Platform

Funding: $15 million

Canada is allocating $15 million to strengthen vaccine production capacities in Latin America and the Caribbean to increase the manufacturing of quality-assured, safe, and effective COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. This initiative will also strengthen national regulatory systems and policies while increasing multi-country coordination across public and private sector partners.

Expanding trade

Memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Food Security and Agricultural Products and Services

In Bali, the Canadian Commercial Corporation and Indonesia’s Ministry of State Owned Enterprises signed a MOU outlining their commitment to work together to respond to food security challenges in Indonesia, including by promoting the export of Canadian potash, wheat, grains, soybeans, and other agricultural products.

MOU on Green Airport initiative

The Canadian Commercial Corporation and the Government of the Province of North Kalimantan signed a MOU outlining their commitment to work together to support the development of a new airport for freight and passenger traffic in Bulungan Regency, North Kalimantan Province. The Canadian Commercial Corporation will identify and work with private-sector Canadian exporters best positioned to deliver this project from a technical, managerial, and financial perspective.

Advancing peace and security

MoU on Counter Terrorism

The Government of Canada and the Government of Indonesia signed a MOU to support deeper cooperation on counter-terrorism through the establishment of a joint working group that will explore opportunities for training, information sharing, and joint approaches to incorporate gender equality and human rights into counter-terrorism policy.

Empowering women and girls

Build Back Equal, UN Women

Funding: $10 million

This initiative provides opportunities in the Eastern Caribbean to “build back equal” from the COVID-19 pandemic in a way that advances gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Build Back Equal will help increase women’s ability to participate in every sphere – in the economy, in education, and in public life – by addressing the unequal distribution of unpaid and domestic care work in communities and households, advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights through training, and ensuring care services are integrated in gender-responsive social protection systems.

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Economy

S&P/TSX composite down more than 200 points, U.S. stock markets also fall

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TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was down more than 200 points in late-morning trading, weighed down by losses in the technology, base metal and energy sectors, while U.S. stock markets also fell.

The S&P/TSX composite index was down 239.24 points at 22,749.04.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 312.36 points at 40,443.39. The S&P 500 index was down 80.94 points at 5,422.47, while the Nasdaq composite was down 380.17 points at 16,747.49.

The Canadian dollar traded for 73.80 cents US compared with 74.00 cents US on Thursday.

The October crude oil contract was down US$1.07 at US$68.08 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up less than a penny at US$2.26 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was down US$2.10 at US$2,541.00 an ounce and the December copper contract was down four cents at US$4.10 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 6, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Economy

S&P/TSX composite up more than 150 points, U.S. stock markets also higher

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TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 150 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in technology, financial and energy stocks, while U.S. stock markets also pushed higher.

The S&P/TSX composite index was up 171.41 points at 23,298.39.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 278.37 points at 41,369.79. The S&P 500 index was up 38.17 points at 5,630.35, while the Nasdaq composite was up 177.15 points at 17,733.18.

The Canadian dollar traded for 74.19 cents US compared with 74.23 cents US on Wednesday.

The October crude oil contract was up US$1.75 at US$76.27 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up less than a penny at US$2.10 per mmBTU.

The December gold contract was up US$18.70 at US$2,556.50 an ounce and the December copper contract was down less than a penny at US$4.22 a pound.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2024.

Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD)

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Investment

Crypto Market Bloodbath Amid Broader Economic Concerns

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Breaking Business News Canada

The crypto market has recently experienced a significant downturn, mirroring broader risk asset sell-offs. Over the past week, Bitcoin’s price dropped by 24%, reaching $53,000, while Ethereum plummeted nearly a third to $2,340. Major altcoins also suffered, with Cardano down 27.7%, Solana 36.2%, Dogecoin 34.6%, XRP 23.1%, Shiba Inu 30.1%, and BNB 25.7%.

The severe downturn in the crypto market appears to be part of a broader flight to safety, triggered by disappointing economic data. A worse-than-expected unemployment report on Friday marked the beginning of a technical recession, as defined by the Sahm Rule. This rule identifies a recession when the three-month average unemployment rate rises by at least half a percentage point from its lowest point in the past year.

Friday’s figures met this threshold, signaling an abrupt economic downshift. Consequently, investors sought safer assets, leading to declines in major stock indices: the S&P 500 dropped 2%, the Nasdaq 2.5%, and the Dow 1.5%. This trend continued into Monday with further sell-offs overseas.

The crypto market’s rapid decline raises questions about its role as either a speculative asset or a hedge against inflation and recession. Despite hopes that crypto could act as a risk hedge, the recent crash suggests it remains a speculative investment.

Since the downturn, the crypto market has seen its largest three-day sell-off in nearly a year, losing over $500 billion in market value. According to CoinGlass data, this bloodbath wiped out more than $1 billion in leveraged positions within the last 24 hours, including $365 million in Bitcoin and $348 million in Ether.

Khushboo Khullar of Lightning Ventures, speaking to Bloomberg, argued that the crypto sell-off is part of a broader liquidity panic as traders rush to cover margin calls. Khullar views this as a temporary sell-off, presenting a potential buying opportunity.

Josh Gilbert, an eToro market analyst, supports Khullar’s perspective, suggesting that the expected Federal Reserve rate cuts could benefit crypto assets. “Crypto assets have sold off, but many investors will see an opportunity. We see Federal Reserve rate cuts, which are now likely to come sharper than expected, as hugely positive for crypto assets,” Gilbert told Coindesk.

Despite the recent volatility, crypto continues to make strides toward mainstream acceptance. Notably, Morgan Stanley will allow its advisors to offer Bitcoin ETFs starting Wednesday. This follows more than half a year after the introduction of the first Bitcoin ETF. The investment bank will enable over 15,000 of its financial advisors to sell BlackRock’s IBIT and Fidelity’s FBTC. This move is seen as a significant step toward the “mainstreamization” of crypto, given the lengthy regulatory and company processes in major investment banks.

The recent crypto market downturn highlights its volatility and the broader economic concerns affecting all risk assets. While some analysts see the current situation as a temporary sell-off and a buying opportunity, others caution against the speculative nature of crypto. As the market evolves, its role as a mainstream alternative asset continues to grow, marked by increasing institutional acceptance and new investment opportunities.

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