Canadian businesses were provided with updated information on Vietnam’s investment policies, potential and business opportunities for stronger trade links during a Vietnam business forum in Toronto on September 24.
Co-hosted by the Vietnam-Canada Trade Council, the Vietnamese Embassy in Canada and Ontario province, the event attracted a crowd of representatives from Canadian companies and Vietnamese entrepreneurs living in the country.
Speaking at the forum, Vietnamese Ambassador To Anh Dung highlighted that it’s good time for Canadian firms to enhance cooperation with Vietnamese partners, as the country boasts a 90-million-strong market with skilled, young labour, political stability and open-door policies.
According to the diplomat, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Canada hit nearly 1.8 billion USD in the first six months of this year. Vietnam is considered the centre of Canada’s three policies in the Asia-Pacific.
Vietnam backs Canada’s involvement in and contribution to the Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia and pledges to facilitate Canadian business activities in the country, Dung stated.
Toronto city Councillor Michael Thompson stressed that Canada considers Vietnam its priority international market, adding that Toronto will work closely with the Canadian Government and Ontario province to build trade links with Vietnam.
During the forum, exchanges between leaders from Canadian firms operating in Vietnam such as Manulife, B&H Architechs, Deloitte Canada and Ernst and Young were arranged, contributing to trade cooperation between the two countries’ businesses.-VNA
Vietnam, Canada bilateral trade to prosper
Bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and Canada has prospered, reaching about 1.45 billion USD in the first five months of 2015, according to Statistics Canada.