September 23, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
Over the weekend, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, concluded her participation in the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Canada Economic Ministers’ Consultation in Vientiane, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR).
During the consultation, Minister Ng highlighted the progress made by Canada and ASEAN Member States towards an ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement and stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to achieve the goal of concluding negotiations for the agreement in 2025.
At the meeting, Minister Ng and ASEAN partners discussed the trade and economic cooperation that has grown since the launch of the Canada-ASEAN Strategic Partnership a year ago, including advancing initiatives under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy in key areas such as inclusive trade, digital trade, agriculture and agri-food, and sustainability.
The Minister also welcomed the participation of the Canada-ASEAN Business Council in the consultations and acknowledged its support for Canada’s commitment to creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses and investors.
On the sidelines of the consultations, Minister Ng also met with several international partners to advance discussions on trade priorities of mutual interest.
She met in particular:
- Malaithong Kommasith, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR
- Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia
- Filipus Nino Pereira, Minister of Trade and Industry, Timor-Leste
- Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary General of ASEAN
- Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce, Cambodia
- Helene Budliger Artieda, State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Switzerland
- Tim Ayres, Assistant Minister for Trade, Australia
- Douglas Alexander, Minister of State (Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security), United Kingdom
