Yesterday, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, welcomed Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore, to Ottawa.
In a bilateral meeting, Minister Ng highlighted the importance of Singapore as a key partner under Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy. The ministers discussed key trade policy issues, including free trade agreement negotiations between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as Canada's priorities as chair of the 2024 Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission. These priorities are:
- promoting progressive stewardship of the Agreement
- increasing the utilization of the Agreement, including by traditionally underrepresented groups in CPTPP member economies
- developing a path forward for welcoming additional economies to the Agreement
As part of the two countries' efforts to expand commercial ties, the ministers issued a joint statement on science, technology and innovation (ST&I) collaboration. The joint statement, a testament to enhanced ST&I cooperation, will facilitate partnerships between Canadian and Singaporean companies, by supporting research and development activities in strategic sectors. The ministers also agreed to work together through a framework for green economy cooperation, in particular in the areas of green and low carbon technologies, carbon pricing and carbon markets, trade and green economy initiatives, and green and transition financing. This will help build an innovative, clean, and prosperous future for all.
During an Invest in Canada round-table discussion, the ministers met with the business community. They spoke about how to expand investment ties in the two countries to create more good middle-class jobs and further prosperity. Minister Ng championed Canada as a great place in which to invest, highlighting its competitive advantages, notably its talented and diverse workforce.
The visit ended with an evening reception celebrating Asian Heritage Month in Canada. The event also gave people from the business and academic communities a chance to meet, and it helped to strengthen Canada and Singapore's people-to-people ties.
