Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, met with Gan Kim Yong, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry.
During the meeting, Minister Ng noted the strong and long-standing partnership between Canada and Singapore as the 2 countries celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations. The Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister spoke about the importance of working together on science, technology and innovation and on promoting sustainable development and economic growth.
Minister Ng expressed Canada's gratitude for Singapore's support in the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Canada. An ASEAN-Canada FTA would provide Canadians with preferential access to the ASEAN market and improve trade and investment for both parties.
Minister Ng also noted the official opening of the Singapore office of Development Finance Institute Canada Inc. (FinDev Canada), which was announced during the Canada-in-Asia Conference this week. Under Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada has provided funding to FinDev Canada to expand into the Indo-Pacific region, thereby growing and diversifying its footprint in priority markets abroad.
Also at the conference, Minister Ng was pleased to announce the approval of new projects under the Indo-Pacific Engagement Initiative (IPEI). These projects will be part of the Indo-Pacific Scholarships and Fellowships for Canadians Program and the Indo-Pacific Regional Connectivity Envelope. The IPEI will develop Canadian expertise on the Indo-Pacific region and deepen ties between Canadians and the region's people through civil society collaboration.
Minister Ng also thanked Deputy Prime Minister Gan for his attendance at the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Commission meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, in November 2024.
