The Mali-Canada Business Council (CAMC) presented a strategic roadmap to Malian Prime Minister General Abdoulaye Maïga on Monday, outlining plans to leverage the Malian diaspora living in Canada to boost bilateral trade and private sector investment.
Led by its president, Amadou Moustapha Diop, the delegation detailed initiatives focused on connecting businesses between both nations, attracting capital, and promoting economic opportunities abroad. Formally launched in Bamako on May 14, 2026, the independent platform represents over 100 enterprises, experts, and investors across Mali and Canada.
To showcase commercial potential, the council proposed staging an inaugural Mali Economic Day before the end of 2026, with a follow-up edition planned in Canada. The proposed initiative, organized in collaboration with the Canadian Embassy in Mali, aims to foster networking among business leaders, investors, and diaspora members. By channeling the expertise, professional networks, and capital of Malian expatriates into productive domestic projects, CAMC hopes to stimulate private enterprise growth. Prime Minister Maïga welcomed the roadmap, urging council leaders to serve as economic ambassadors for Mali while assuring them of official state backing.
This initiative coincides with Canada’s broader diplomatic and commercial strategy for Africa, published in April 2026, which prioritizes engagement with African diasporas and direct investment in infrastructure, innovation, and critical minerals. Commercial relations between the two countries remain rooted in mining, with Canadian direct investment in Mali recorded at nearly C$1.5 billion in 2021 and bilateral merchandise trade reaching C$29.9 million in 2022. The two nations have also been bound by a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) since 2016.
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