Vietnam is Canada’s key trading partner, says Minister Mary Ng

Meeting with Phan Van Mai, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City municipal government, on March 28, Mary Ng said Canada is currently deploying the Pacific - Indian Ocean strategy, and Vietnam plays an important role in this strategy. 

She unveiled that the Canadian Government has pledged US$2.3 billion to increase Canada’s presence in the ASEAN region, as well as in Vietnam over the next five years.

For his part, Mai said that Ho Chi Minh City attaches great importance to economic, trade, and investment ties with Canada, noting the visit by the Canadian delegation woud help both sides to gain greater insights into each other and further promote cooperation more practically. 

According to the local leader, there remains ample room for increasing trade turnover between Ho Chi Minh City and Canada by utilising incentives from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Pacific (CPTPP).

Mai also welcomed Canada's opening of offices of government agencies and Canadian associations in Ho Chi Minh City, hoping that the city would cooperate with Canada in education and training in order to develop a skilled workforce in the ongoing process of international integration. 

“Many students in Ho Chi Minh City have chosen to study in Canada, so we want to have more Canadian schools, especially universities in the city,” Mai added.