Ottawa (VNA) – Canada's Minister of International TradeFrancois-Philippe Champagne began his three-day visit on March 22 toSingapore, aiming to bolster trade and investment with the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Singapore in particular.
Theminister will meet with his Singaporean counterpart and other officials todiscuss measures to enhance bilateral relations. He will also attend anddeliver a speech at the Canada-ASEAN Business Council.
Duringhis visit, Champagne will seek export opportunities for Canada’s aluminium andsteel and expand trade and investment between the two countries andCanada-ASEAN, especially after the signing of the Comprehensive and ProgressiveAgreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
ASEANis the sixth largest trade partner of Canada, with two-way trade hitting 23.3billion CAD, or 20 billion USD in 2017.
The signing of the CPTPP took place in Santiago deChile on March 8 (local time), with the participation of representatives from11 member countries, including four ASEAN members and Canada.- VNA