Vancouver, Canada – A high-level forum held in Vancouver has brought together Vietnamese and Canadian officials to strengthen cooperation in production and energy sectors. The event, organized by the Vietnamese Trade Office and the Canada-ASEAN Business Council, was aimed at fostering closer economic ties between the two countries.

Key attendees included Nguyen Hong Dien, Vietnam's Minister of Industry and Trade, Mary Ng, Canada's Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade, and Economic Development, and Senator Clement Gignac, Co-Chair of the Canada-ASEAN Parliamentary Friendship Group.

The inaugural business forum, with a focus on energy and industrial cooperation, provided an opportunity for businesses on Canada's West Coast to explore opportunities beyond trade, including renewable energy and nuclear energy.

Tran Thu Quynh, Commercial Counselor at the Vietnamese Embassy, emphasized that the forum's objective is to promote trade diversification and market opening, as well as to address the rising trends of nearshoring and protectionism. She highlighted Vietnam's role as a key gateway to ASEAN, offering Canadian businesses direct access to the dynamic Indo-Pacific market.

Both Minister Dien and Minister Ng underscored the immense potential of the economic, trade, and investment partnership, providing important platforms to strengthen supply chain connections and production linkages through frameworks such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Minister Dien reaffirmed Vietnam's commitment to a green economy focused on clean energy and nuclear power, as the country aims to achieve its ambitious net-zero emissions target by 2050. Senator Gignac highlighted the significant potential for cooperation between the two sides, particularly in the energy and production sectors, emphasizing the need for strong actions and joint commitments to realize this potential.

Participants agreed on the importance of strengthening connections between businesses, research institutions, and universities to support the development of Vietnam's nuclear energy sector.

With over $10 billion in bilateral trade, Vietnam and Canada are well-positioned for further economic growth. By leveraging Canada's innovation and Vietnam's strategic role in ASEAN, with a projected 650 million consumers by 2030, both countries can unlock new opportunities for cooperation and development.