Canada-Honduras Relations

Fact Sheet: General country information, political and economic data.

Beginning of Diplomatic Relations

Canada and the Republic of Honduras established diplomatic relations in 1961, and relations between the two countries are good. The Embassy of Canada in Costa Rica is responsible for managing Canada's general relations and our trade and consular programs in Honduras. Canada also maintains an Office of the Canadian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Key Issues

Development Assistance:
One of the most important elements of Canada's bilateral relations with Honduras is our substantial development assistance program. Honduras is Canada's largest development assistance recipient in Central America. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has recently designated Honduras as a "country of focus" as it is considered to have demonstrated effectiveness in using foreign aid. Under this program, CIDA's bilateral program will spend approximately $14 million per year from 2004-2005 to 2006-2007 in support of major country-led programs. In response to Honduras' needs, the bilateral program will continue to concentrate on natural resource management and will expand to include health and education as priority sectors.

Human Rights:
Canada is concerned about the level of violence and insecurity in Honduras, and about the associated human rights problems. Canada closely monitors the human rights situation and uses various bilateral and multilateral forums (e.g. the United Nations Human Rights Commission and the Organization of American States to express our concerns.

Free Trade Agreement:
Canada is negotiating a free trade agreement with Honduras and three other countries in Central America: El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Parallel agreements on labour and environment are also being pursued.

Trade and Investment

International Trade Canada is responsible for positioning Canada as a world business leader and for promoting Canada as a dynamic place to do business. Visit the International Trade Canada web site for information about services for Canadian companies, non-Canadian companies, business development, and information relating to investment or trade policy.

Indigenous Relations

Learn more about the Aboriginal dimension of Canada's relations with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Development Assistance

CIDA supports projects in the Americas and around the world that are eligible for Canadian aid through development cooperation initiatives.

April 2005