Canada announced $272.1 million in new foreign aid for projects in Bangladesh and the Indo-Pacific region, as confirmed by Canada’s Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, on Sunday (9 March).
“Canada continues to fiercely strengthen our long-standing friendship with Bangladesh and the wider Indo-Pacific region through our enduring people-to-people ties,” Hussen said in a statement. “By supporting vulnerable communities’ healthcare services, empowering women, and addressing climate change, we are building a brighter future for the global community.”
The funding, along with contributions from other foreign partners and donors, will support 14 different projects in Bangladesh and other Indo-Pacific nations, according to Global News.
This initiative contrasts sharply with the American approach, under former Republican President Donald Trump, who ended foreign aid programs through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Trump, alongside his efficiency czar Elon Musk, halted U.S. foreign aid for 90 days after taking office, freezing aid programs globally and leading to furloughs for thousands of government employees and contractors.
Trump’s administration viewed foreign aid programs as wasteful, arguing they supported liberal political agendas. Critics of this stance contend that such spending enhances U.S. global standing and counters foreign interference.
American foreign aid workers and advocates have contested Trump’s actions in court, claiming that the president overstepped his legal authority by dismantling a federal agency whose funding was authorized by Congress.
Canada’s new foreign aid projects focus on gender equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls, improved access to education, skills training, and strengthening resilience to climate change. Other projects aim to boost civic engagement and reduce poverty.
One notable initiative is the “Empowering Women in the Nursing Sector” project, which will receive a $6.3 million funding boost over three years for Canadian company Cowater International.
This announcement was made by Hussen and British Columbia Liberal MP Parm Bains at a Vancouver event attended by leaders of the Bangladeshi community, which now numbers over 100,000 people in Canada, according to government estimates.
