Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy 2023-2024 Implementation Update

Table of contents

• Introduction
• The Indo-Pacific Strategy
• Year 2 highlights: Overview of key achievements
• Promoting peace, resilience and security
• Building security partnerships and capacity
• Cyber diplomacy and security
• Augmented intelligence capacity
• Enhanced defence contributions
• Enhancing defence relations in the Indo-Pacific
• Expanding trade, investment and supply chain resilience
• Canadian trade and economic agreements
• Facilitating export promotion, trade and development
• Canadian agriculture and agri-food promotion
• Investing in and connecting people
• Canada’s international assistance in the Indo-Pacific
• Migration management and refugee protection
• Strengthening people-to-people exchanges and international assistance
• Building a sustainable and green future
• Support to address resilience and climate change
• Canadian engagement on environment and climate change
• Canada’s Shared Ocean Fund
• Supporting sustainable infrastructure development
• Supporting climate change and clean energy transitions in the Indo-Pacific
• Canada as an active and engaged partner to the Indo-Pacific
• Diplomatic engagement in the region
• Uplifting Canada’s diplomatic capacities
• Canada Pavilion at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka
• Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada enhancement
• Provincial, territorial and whole-of-society partnerships in the region

Introduction

The Indo-Pacific Strategy

In November 2022, Canada announced its Indo-Pacific Strategy—a generational Canadian response to the global shift resulting from the rising influence of the Indo-Pacific and the profound impacts the region has on the lives of Canadians. The Indo-Pacific Strategy provides Canada with a dynamic, whole-of-society approach to guide long-term engagement with the region. Every issue that matters to Canadians—including our national security, economic prosperity, respect for international law, democratic values, public health, protection of our environment, rights of women and girls, and human rights—will be shaped by the relationships Canada has with Indo-Pacific countries.

Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is a whole-of-government effort supported by additional investments of nearly $2.3 billion over 5 years, supporting 24 initiatives across 17 federal government departments and agencies.

The Strategy is organized into 5 interconnected strategic objectives:

1. promoting peace, resilience and security
2. expanding trade, investment and supply chain resilience
3. investing in and connecting people
4. building a sustainable and green future
5. Canada as an active and engaged partner to the Indo-Pacific region

Year 2 highlights: Overview of key achievements

This report covers the second year of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, from November 2023 to November 2024. This was a significant year, with major developments built on the foundations laid in year 1.

Highlights from year 2 include:

• Securing trade and investment opportunities: The Indo-Pacific region is rapidly emerging as the global centre of economic dynamism and currently accounts for over one-third of the world’s economic activity. By 2030, the region is expected to become home to two-thirds of the global middle class, and by 2040 projected to make up over half of the global economy. These realities highlight the significance of the Indo-Pacific region for Canadian companies and offer unparalleled opportunities for expansion, market exploration and strategic partnerships. Opportunities for Canadian companies are secured through achievements in trade agreements, such as the Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), for which negotiations have substantively concluded. As Southeast Asia’s largest economy, with a population of 279 million and GDP of close to $1.9 trillion in 2023, Indonesia holds significant potential for Canadian exporters. Seizing these and other strategic opportunities will help safeguard Canada’s economic security, build our future prosperity and help create good, well-paying jobs. Recognizing this, Canada is increasing engagements in the region to secure trade and investment opportunities for Canada and Canadians such as through the latest series of full-scale Team Canada trade missions to Malaysia, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam, which have led to tangible benefits for nearly 300 participating Canadian companies. As a result of their in-market participation, Canadian companies participated in more than 1,400 business-to-business (B2B) meetings with local counterparts, leading—within the 6 months following the trade missions—to 35 new revenue streams valued at a total of more than $8.3 million and nearly 80 new strategic partnerships with a reported value of over $23 million.
• Strengthening defence ties: Canada is strengthening defence ties in the region through the elevation of defence agreements such as signing a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation with the Philippines and signing a letter of reference on defence cooperation with Cambodia. Demonstrating Canada’s continuing commitment to being an enduring presence in support of peace and security, Canada has deployed 3 Royal Canadian Navy warships in the region under Operation HORIZON. This is an annual commitment in support of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.
• Growing Canada’s presence in the region: Canada’s Prime Minister announced that Canada will be represented by full embassies in all Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, as Canada will upgrade its existing offices in Cambodia and Laos in 2025. In 2024, new offices opened across the region, including Canada’s first Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office in Manila, Philippines, and Export Development Canada’s new offices in Tokyo, Japan, and Seoul, and the Republic of Korea. In addition, through funding from the Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada has expanded its diplomatic presence in the region: among other initiatives, over 70 new diplomats have been posted across the region, and Canada launched its regional cyber attaché network, consisting of 8 new positions, 4 additional defence advisers, and 3 representatives for Natural Resources Canada.
• Leading green innovations: In November 2024, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Summit in Lima, Peru, Canada’s Prime Minister announced Canada’s vision to strengthen nuclear partnerships and address climate change in the Indo-Pacific region through the Canadian Trade Gateway for Nuclear Development. Announced as part of the Strategy in 2022, the gateway will help strengthen Canada’s nuclear partnerships in the region, develop local expertise and facilitate knowledge sharing in the nuclear sector.
• Mobilizing support for inclusive climate change mitigation: Canada announced a $360 million repayable contribution to the Asian Development Bank to establish the Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia.

Further highlights on Canada’s relationships in the region include:

• High-level engagement: There were 18 high-level visits to the region by Canada’s Prime Minister or ministers, advancing Canadian priorities with key decision makers. This included visits by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, the Minister of National Defence, the Minister of International Development, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, and the Minister of Small Business.
• Building stronger relations with Southeast Asia: As part of Canada’s commitment to ASEAN and to building on our strategic partnership, Canada continued to elevate engagement at the highest levels, with the Prime Minister and Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development participating in a successful ASEAN-Canada Special Summit on the margins of the ASEAN Leaders Summit. This was the third such leaders meeting between Canada and ASEAN in as many years and an important engagement to advance mutual political, economic and sociocultural interests.
• Implementing the strategic Canada-Japan Action Plan: Canada and Japan are enhancing their strategic engagement as part of the ongoing implementation of the Canada-Japan Action Plan. There are regular, high-level interactions at both the prime ministerial and ministerial levels; bolstering collaboration to strengthen the rules-based international order and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific are key areas of focus. This includes 4 engagements between Canada’s Prime Minister and Japan’s Prime Minister, as well as 3 other high-level visits to Japan. Canada is also stepping up to be a key partner for Japan on economic security, including energy security, which is an issue of growing importance to the broader Indo-Pacific region.
• Deepening defence and diplomatic partnership with the Republic of Korea: There were several high-level diplomatic achievements, with Canada and the Republic of Korea holding the inaugural Canada-Republic of Korea Foreign and Defence (2+2) Ministerial Meeting. In addition, Canada and Korea launched the Canada-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Action Plan and the Canada-Korea Dialogue on North Korean Human Rights. Additionally, 2024 to 2025 marks the Year of Cultural Exchanges between Canada and the Republic of Korea. In 2024, there were 2 Canadian ministerial visits to the Republic of Korea and 2 engagements between the Prime Minister and President, in addition to the high-level dialogue listed above.
• Elevating the relationship with Mongolia: Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs hosted Mongolia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in November 2023, the first visit by a Mongolian foreign minister to Canada in 25 years. The ministers agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship between Canada and Mongolia to a comprehensive partnership.
• Reaffirming engagement with the Pacific Islands: Canada is deepening existing partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and diversifying diplomatic networks to be a stronger force for positive change. In 2024, Canada deployed a second resident diplomat in Suva, Fiji. This diplomat is Canada’s first head of cooperation in the Pacific Islands region and is advancing implementation of Canada’s new bilateral development program in the countries of the Pacific Islands. In addition, following Canda’s establishment of diplomatic relations with the Cook Islands and Niue in 2023, Canada appointed the first, non-resident high commissioner to both these states. This is a milestone in the history of Canadian diplomacy, as it finalized the official establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and 2 Pacific Island nations.

Promoting peace, resilience and security

The Indo-Pacific region continues to have a significant impact on global security and stability, and developments in the region also have a direct bearing on the safety, prosperity and security of Canadians. In recognition of this, Canada has taken steps through the Indo-Pacific Strategy to increase its security and military partnerships in the region in order to mitigate threats to regional and national security.

Building security partnerships and capacity

The Indo-Pacific region plays a critical role in shaping Canada’s future, but it also faces a multitude of security threats that pose a challenge for citizens of Indo-Pacific countries and for Canadians. It is critical that security capacity-building efforts continue in the region to address such threats. As such, Canada engaged on a broad set of issues, spanning irregular migration, transnational organized crime, international terrorism, biological security, nuclear safety and security, supply chain security and intelligence activities.

Canada is also bolstering its security partnerships and capacity building in the region by building strategic ties with a wide variety of actors across law enforcement, customs, border management and other security sector actors to support national security and public safety.

Mitigating offshore risks through border management and addressing border-related regional threats

As the world changes and connectivity between countries increases, it is important to share knowledge and work together with countries in the region to manage customs, exchange information on trafficking and smuggling trends, and share lessons learned on traveller modernization systems.

During the second year of the Strategy, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) facilitated and participated in numerous initiatives to strengthen Canada’s border security partnerships within the Indo-Pacific region. These activities enhanced the prevention of, and response to, border-related regional threats and increased engagement with regional border management partners and intergovernmental organizations. The CBSA also facilitated training initiatives within the region to enhance the border management, customs and migration capacities of its partners.

Canada actively engaged in the APEC Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures and has enhanced its cooperation with key bilateral partners, including Taiwan and Japan. In May 2024, a delegation from Taiwan’s Customs Administration travelled to Canada for site visits to various CBSA facilities and held meetings to share best practices and to further cooperation between both agencies. Additionally, Canada hosted officers from Pakistan Customs for a study visit of Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Canada also engaged in projects to share and build expertise in the areas of risk assessment and operational intelligence, and to fuel discussions on search capabilities and investigation techniques. In September 2024, the CBSA participated in a trilateral operational engagement project with the Australian Border Force and the New Zealand Customs Service at Melbourne Airport to assess and share best practices.

Beyond land border issues, Canada also engaged with partners, including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines, on maritime issues related to border control and smuggling. Notably, Canada launched a capacity-building project with the Philippines focused on maritime security intelligence investigations to increase the ability of the Philippines to detect, intercept and investigate drug trafficking and migrant smuggling activities.

Given Canada’s geography, maritime border security issues are an important priority, with Canada sharing expertise in the domain with partners in the region to help advance knowledge and facilitate cooperation.

Addressing transnational organized crime and international terrorism

The challenges posed by transnational organized crime and international terrorism affect Indo-Pacific states and Canada alike. Criminal and terrorist groups with links in both the region and in Canada are involved in a range of transnational crimes, including cyber scam compounds targeting victims worldwide, drug trafficking contributing to the illegal toxic drug and overdose crisis, and money laundering and terrorist financing threatening the integrity of the global financial and banking sectors. In 2024, Canada launched $24.6 million of new programming through the Indo-Pacific Strategy to address transnational organized crime and international terrorism in the Indo-Pacific region, including key threats such as drug and precursor trafficking, violent extremism, cybercrime, wildlife and timber trafficking, money laundering, terrorist financing and border security. Canadian-funded frontline training, technical assistance, equipment and resources are being provided as projects are implemented in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

In support of this programming, Canada is also playing a leading role in multilateral spaces on these issues. In June 2024, the 12^th annual ASEAN + Canada consultation took place at the Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime in Vientiane, Laos. At the consultation, Canada shared information with ASEAN member states on areas of cooperation and to identify common priorities and capacity building needs. During this meeting, Canada presented a work plan to guide collaborative actions to counter transnational organized crime and international terrorism in the region.

In November 2024, Canada hosted a delegation from Indonesia’s National Counter-Terrorism Agency to hold the second meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism. A roadmap for areas of collaboration between Indonesian and Canadian departments on counterterrorism was agreed to for the next 2 years.

Weapons threat reduction in the Indo-Pacific

Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program works to prevent states of proliferation concern and malign non-state actors and terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction and related materials (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear).

As part of this effort, Canada has partnered with ASEAN to deliver targeted assistance to strengthen biological security in the Indo-Pacific region. This includes supporting crucial health security institutions that enable ASEAN countries to promptly detect and respond to disease outbreaks and all manner of other biological threats, thereby minimizing illness, death, economic loss, and social and political impacts in the region and internationally.

Canada is also supporting efforts by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to enhance nuclear safety and security in the region, including strengthening regional adherence to the IAEA Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources. Canadian security assistance furthers the peaceful uses of nuclear energy by ensuring that nuclear technology continues to be safely and securely shared.

In October 2024, demonstrating Canada’s commitment to addressing the threats arising from North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, Canada, alongside like-minded partners, established the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team. This mechanism will assist in the full implementation of sanction measures stipulated in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions on North Korea.

Cyber diplomacy and security

Canada is stepping up its ability to engage on cyber and cybersecurity concerns in the Indo-Pacific region. Through the Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada has established a multi-departmental approach to strengthen partnerships to achieve better threat awareness, greater law enforcement cooperation and greater resilience in our partners, and to gain support for UN norms on responsible state behaviour in cyberspace and increase support for allied actions.

Cyber diplomacy

As cyber security issues become increasingly prominent in the region, Canada has for the first time deployed 8 dedicated cyber attachés across the region—5 through Global Affairs Canada and 3 through the RCMP—to better engage in cyber diplomacy and deepen bilateral relationships. With no former in-region presence dedicated to cyber diplomacy, these additional resources, provided by the Indo-Pacific Strategy, will increase Canada’s knowledge and capacity for engagement on cyber issues in the region, ensuring that Canada has increased visibility on concerns in the region. This will also make Canada a more present and active partner and support closer international cooperation. In August 2024, these officers were deployed across the region, in Australia, Japan, Singapore, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan.

Since November 2023, Canada has continued to build relationships with regional cyber security partners, such as through a series of bilateral engagements with Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

These partnerships were further strengthened through Canada’s participation in key regional events such as the annual meeting of the Pacific Cyber Security Operational Network, the Sydney Dialogue, the NATO-supported Cyber Champions Summit, the Pacific Cyber Security Operational Network, the Pacific Cyber Capacity Building and Coordination Conference, Singapore International Cyber Week, and ongoing engagement on cyber security through the Partners in the Blue Pacific, and through Canada’s organization of an inaugural annual cyber conference in Manila.

In July 2024, Canada was successful in its bid with the Philippines to become the new co-chairs of the ASEAN Regional Forum Inter-Sessional Meeting on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies. This was the culmination of a year of deeper engagement and participation in cybersecurity activities and meetings in the region. Canada now plays a leadership role within an important venue that we will use to promote a peaceful, secure, open and cooperative environment and to develop transparency and confidence-building measures to prevent conflict in cyberspace.

Cyber security and capacity building

In addition to this increased diplomatic role, Global Affairs Canada launched 2 regional capacity-building projects with ASEAN states to improve cyber security in recipient countries; these complement regional training and workshops being delivered by the Department of National Defence and by the RCMP on cybercrime.

Canada’s Weapons Threat Reduction Program also works with specialized partners to help improve the resilience of Indo-Pacific countries to cybersecurity threats that fund North Korea’s illicit weapons of mass destruction program. This has included providing training to central bank officials from across the region on money laundering techniques for cryptocurrency; organizing cybersecurity and ransomware training courses for information technology professionals in critical infrastructure organizations in Malaysia and Thailand; and organizing virtual training courses on cryptocurrency theft and money laundering for subject matter experts.

Additionally, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) dedicated resources to exchange and develop concrete ways to engage with counterparts in Japan. In February 2024, Canada participated for the first time in the Japanese-led exercise CYBER KONGO, which bolstered our joint ability to respond to attacks. Subsequently, in May 2024, the CAF Cyber Command joined the Japan Self Defense Force’s Cyber Defense Command as a bilateral team to participate in the U.S.-led, multilateral exercise CYBER FLAG.

In March 2024, Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development attended the inauguration of the BlackBerry Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Cyberjaya, Malaysia.

Augmented intelligence capacity

Canada is bolstering its security and intelligence capacities through targeted new investments by the Indo-Pacific Strategy to the Communications Security Establishment Canada, Privy Council Office and Global Affairs Canada to increase foreign and intelligence reporting capacity in support of the Government of Canada and our allies and to increase engagement with regional partners.

These intelligence activities are in alignment with Canada’s intelligence priorities, which aim to advance, defend and protect the security and prosperity of Canada and Canadians while countering and preventing state activities against them at home, abroad and online.

Enhanced defence contributions

During the second year of the Strategy, Canada’s Department of National Defence focused on maintaining active, meaningful and consistent military operations in the Indo-Pacific and deepening defence relations with key regional partners.

Through an augmented naval presence, increased participation in multilateral exercises and activities, as well as senior official engagements, Canada has strengthened its reputation as a reliable and engaged partner in regional defence and security issues.

Operation HORIZON: New exercises and Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activities

Canada now maintains an augmented naval presence in the region, with the annual deployment of 3 Royal Canadian Navy warships. In addition, in 2024 the Royal Canadian Air Force deployed 2 maritime patrol aircraft in support of UN Security Council sanctions-monitoring activities to counter North Korea’s ship-to-ship transfers. Through Operation HORIZON’s increased and diversified forward presence, the CAF observed or participated in over 20 regional multilateral exercises and activities.

The CAF’s robust participation in regional military activities demonstrates that Canada is a valuable and reliable contributor to promoting regional peace and stability. This larger presence also allows our service personnel to interact with their regional partners more often and learn from each other’s expertise.

One example is Canada’s participation in the Indonesian-led exercise Super Garuda Shield in August 2024. Canada deepened its defence relations and cooperation with Indonesia by actively participating in this year’s exercise with a team of 15 Canadian Army personnel.

Building on pre-existing Royal Canadian Navy activities with partners in the South China Sea, Canada also participated in its first Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activities in June and August 2024. This series of exercises with navies from Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States demonstrated Canada’s continued commitment to promoting regional peace and stability, protecting international law, and strengthening our collective resilience and interoperability in one of the most dynamic maritime environments globally.

Lastly, CAF took part in Exercise MARARA in May 2024, as part of Operation HORIZON, to deepen cooperation in humanitarian assistance and disaster risk work with France and countries in the South Pacific. Canadian engagements with countries in the South Pacific have also included participation, in July 2024, in the Australia-led Operation RENDER SAFE, which aims to clear explosive remnants of war from the Solomon Islands.

Enhancing defence relations in the Indo-Pacific

Canada’s Department of National Defence enhanced the breadth and depth of its defence relations with key Indo-Pacific partners through regular visits by senior officials to the region. These efforts resulted in expanded access to partner armed forces and a better understanding of their capabilities to foster increased cooperation and collaboration.

For example, in January 2024, National Defence signed a Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Philippines, marking a new chapter in the Canada-Philippines bilateral defence partnership. The MoU laid the foundation for future collaboration to advance joint priorities and interoperability, such as the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activities, which saw the Royal Canadian Navy and Philippine Navy sailing together in the South China Sea for the first time, in June and August 2024.

Also in January 2024, Canada signed a letter of reference on defence cooperation with Cambodia, wherein both partners committed to exploring mutual areas of defence cooperation to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. Potential cooperation may include women, peace and security programming; sharing of best practices in the fields of humanitarian aid and disaster relief; and peace support operations.

High-level engagement

Canada’s Minister of National Defence visited the Indo-Pacific on 2 occasions in 2024, offering a significant opportunity to build trust, advance defence initiatives and deliver tangible results with key regional partners.

In May 2024, the Minister represented Canada at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, one of the most important defence events in the region. Significantly, the Minister met his Chinese counterpart on the margins of the Dialogue—the first such meeting between defence ministers from Canada and China in 11 years. The Minister also highlighted Canada’s commitment to Indo-Pacific defence and security issues through remarks at a plenary session and a keynote address at the Southeast Asian Young Leaders’ Programme.

In September 2024, the Minister of National Defence travelled to the Republic of Korea, the first visit by a Canadian defence minister in more than a decade, and Japan, the first visit since 2019. The Minister leveraged speaking engagements as co-host of the United Nations Command Ministerial and at the Summit on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (REAIM Summit) and at the Seoul Defense Dialogue to reinforce key messages and showcase Canada as an active and trusted regional partner. The visits deepened bilateral relations with both priority partners, enhanced Canadian engagement on key regional peace and security priorities, and led to the commitment for the inaugural Canada-Republic of Korea Foreign and Defence (2+2) Ministerial Meeting that took place in November 2024.

In November 2024, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs announced the launch of official negotiations between Canada and Japan on an equipment and technology transfer agreement to facilitate defence industrial collaboration between Canadian and Japanese companies. Such an agreement will lead to the deepening of our broader security relationship with Japan in the region.

Canadian leadership in the women, peace and security agenda

Canada is an international leader in the promotion of the women, peace and security (WPS) agenda and has been supporting initiatives for increasing women’s meaningful participation and integrating gender perspectives in peace and security efforts in the Indo-Pacific region. This includes projects and capacity building programs that strengthen the integration of women in the armed forces and in the security sector.

In March 2024, the Canadian embassy in Tokyo held a workshop with Japan on WPS, bringing together policymakers, practitioners and civil society. The workshop explored concrete possibilities for cooperation and built on previous engagement in Japan by Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, respectively.

In March 2024, the Canada Border Services Agency hosted a fireside chat and speed mentoring event in Thailand for International Women’s Day. Under the theme “Women Supporting Women: Networking, Creating Communities, and Mentorship,” Canadian mentors from the CBSA and the RCMP participated in the event to share their experiences, along with various Thai law enforcement experts. The event promoted women in leadership within border management and law enforcement contexts and aligned with Canada’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

In October 2024, Canada, represented by a delegation from the Department of National Defence, attended an international conference hosted by the Philippines on the theme “Forging Collaboration and Convergence for Advancing Women, Peace, and Security.” The event served as an international stocktaking on the implementation of the WPS agenda ahead of the 25th anniversary, in 2025, of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on WPS. The outcome of the event was the conference declaration, the Pasay Declaration, endorsed by all participating delegations, including Canada.

In November 2024, Canada supported a regional knowledge exchange event in Bali, Indonesia, on enhancing women’s participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations, bringing together participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. The event raised awareness about the Canada-financed Elsie Initiative Fund, which funds innovation to accelerate the pace of change in security institutions and enable more uniformed women to meaningfully deploy to and participate in peace operations, and encouraged more ASEAN member states to consider applying for the Elsie Initiative Fund.

The engagement of Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security in the Indo-Pacific

In June and July 2024, Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security visited Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines to bolster Canadian efforts to advance WPS and strengthen security ties with Southeast Asian partners. The Ambassador engaged with a range of local stakeholders, including civil society and women leaders, local military and government representatives, and multilateral organizations to recognize leadership and progress on WPS in the region across a broad spectrum of issues related to peace and security, including peace processes, peacekeeping and women’s integration in armed forces, mine action and emerging security threats related to climate and technology.

Expanding trade, investment and supply chain resilience

Canada promotes rules-based trade in the region, expands trade and digital partnerships, enhances innovation and research, supports inclusive economic growth and starts new partnerships to promote trade and develop technologies. This supports job creation in Canada and ensures we are meeting the needs of countries in the Indo-Pacific. It is in Canada’s interest to expand trade and investments and to reinforce supply chain resilience. Canada continues to diversify and deepen its Indo-Pacific trade and investment partnerships while supporting Canadian companies looking to expand to, and within, this dynamic region.

Canadian trade and economic agreements

To grow the economy, create jobs and sharpen our competitive advantage, Canada is committed to expanding into new export markets and building partnerships abroad. One of the ways this can be done is through trade and economic agreements with partners in the Indo-Pacific.

In November 2024, the substantive conclusion of the Canada-Indonesia CEPA negotiations was announced in a joint statement by Canada’s Prime Minister and Indonesia’s President. They committed to completing the remaining technical work by the end of 2024 and beginning respective domestic procedures with a view to signing the agreement in 2025, with the objective of bringing the CEPA into force as soon as possible. The agreement will eliminate or reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, enhance access to Southeast Asian supply chains and establish a more transparent and predictable environment for trade and investment.

Between November 2023 and November 2024, progress was made on negotiations for the Canada-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, with Canada participating in 4 negotiating rounds and hosting an in-person negotiating round in Malaysia. All FTA subsidiary bodies have been established, as has a joint workplan to guide negotiators toward a substantive conclusion in 2025. As in-person engagement is critical to progress in such negotiations, Canada and ASEAN committed to 4 “mini-rounds” between September 2024 and January 2025, engaging most of the subsidiary bodies. The ASEAN-Canada Plan of Action Trust Fund also supported the participation of the 3 least developed ASEAN countries at negotiation rounds hosted by Canada.

In December 2023, the Canadian trade office in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada, located in Ottawa, signed a foreign investment promotion and protection arrangement. The arrangement will strengthen trade and investment between the 2 economies by protecting Canadian investments in Taiwan and attracting Taiwanese foreign investment to Canada.

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is Canada’s centrepiece trade agreement in the Indo-Pacific. The CPTPP consists of the following 12 members: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

As the Indo-Pacific is now the world’s leading region of economic growth, and offers opportunities for trade and expansion, the CPTPP can be leveraged by Canadian businesses to get ahead of global competition. Moreover, the CPTPP is a high-standard agreement that upholds transparent, predictable and rules-based trade amid an increasingly fragmented and unpredictable international trading landscape.

Canada served as chair of the CPTPP Commission in 2024, hosting the eighth meeting of the commission in November 2024 in Vancouver. As chair, Canada advanced priorities that reflect the interests of our partners, businesses, civil society and the public, notably accessions, progressive stewardship and comprehensive utilization.

With respect to accessions, the CPTPP parties, under Canada’s leadership, established an accession working group for Costa Rica to potentially join the agreement.

On progressive stewardship, Canada advanced the general review of the agreement, completing a detailed review of all 30 chapters and assessments of cross-cutting and emerging issues. Additionally, Canada’s continuous emphasis on the importance of proper implementation of the agreement saw a marked improvement in notification and transition period reporting practices.

On comprehensive utilization, Canada worked to increase businesses’ utilization of CPTPP preferences across traditionally underrepresented groups in trade, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women-owned firms and Indigenous businesses. To this end, a concerted effort was made to directly engage with stakeholders on the margins of CPTPP meetings this year, including in Brunei Darussalam, Canada and the United Kingdom.

From November 2023 to December 2024, Canada participated in 6 CPTPP Senior Officials Meetings, of which 1 was chaired by New Zealand in December 2023 and 5 of which were chaired by Canada in 2024. In addition, Canada participated in 2 CPTPP ministerial meetings on the margins of the APEC forum, 1 of which was hosted and chaired by Canada in Arequipa, Peru, in May 2024. In 2025, Australia will succeed Canada as the rotating chair of the CPTPP Commission, with Canada and Vietnam serving as vice chairs of the Commission.

Facilitating export promotion, trade and development

Team Canada trade missions

Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development led 2 Team Canada trade missions (TCTM) to 3 economies in the Indo-Pacific region between November 2023 and November 2024, highlighting Canadian excellence and fostering global partnerships.

In March 2024, the second full-scale TCTM to Malaysia and Vietnam took place, assembling more than 200 representatives from over 135 Canadian organizations from sectors such as clean technologies (cleantech), agriculture, aerospace and life sciences. Over 770 tailored business-to-business (B2B) meetings were organized in both markets, creating significant opportunities for participating companies. TCTM participants reported 9 new revenue streams and 29 new strategic partnerships representing a total of more than $17 million. Notably, WaterShed Monitoring, a women-owned cleantech company from Quebec, established a crucial connection with KLC Group, a Vietnamese firm specializing in water management. This led to the signing of a memorandum of understanding and non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to launch a pilot project in the Mekong Delta, aiming to implement WaterShed’s technology across Vietnam’s waterways.

In April 2024, the third full-scale TCTM to the Republic of Korea took place, featuring more than 240 participants from over 160 Canadian organizations from various sectors, including agriculture, clean energy, creative industries and life sciences. Over 650 tailored B2B meetings were arranged for the Canadian business delegates. TCTM participants reported 26 new revenue streams and 50 new strategic partnerships representing a total of more than $14.5 million. Copilot, a Manitoba-based, young entrepreneur-owned company specializing in extended reality and artificial intelligence, secured a significant partnership as a result of the trade mission. Through a B2B meeting, Copilot signed an NDA with a South Korean medical hardware company to advance marketing and sales rights in North America, expanding into consulting and strategic marketing.

CanExport enhancement

CanExport is a program of Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service that helps Canadian SMEs, innovators, national industry associations, and communities expand export, enhance innovation, attract foreign direct investment and explore new markets.

Through expanded funding under the Indo-Pacific Strategy, as of October 2024 over 800 initiatives targeting the region have been approved for CanExport funding, from SMEs, innovators, industry associations and communities, and including initiatives that featured participation in the Team Canada trade missions to Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Korea. During this timeframe, of projects that included at least 1 Indo-Pacific Strategy market under the CanExport SMEs program—the largest of the CanExport sub-programs—96% reported that their overall international business development had expanded as a result of project funding.

The Canadian International Innovation Program’s expansion to the Indo-Pacific region

The Canadian International Innovation Program (CIIP) supports Canadian SMEs in the development of technologies with the potential for commercialization with international partners in countries where Canada has a science, technology and innovation agreement.

Between November 2023 and October 2024, CIIP launched a call for project proposals with the Republic of Korea, resulting in 6 approved projects with an estimated value of $2.3 million. Calls for project proposals were launched with India in April 2024 and Taiwan in November 2024, and both remain in progress.

In addition, CIIP undertook 6 partnership development activities (PDAs) in Japan, Singapore, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan targeting sectors such as quantum, semiconductors and artificial intelligence. These networking and matchmaking missions help Canadian SMEs identify a specific international partner or project. The PDAs resulted in 41 Canadian SMEs meeting with international organizations.

Supporting trade through Export Development Canada

Export Development Canada (EDC) plays a critical role in supporting Canadian trade in the Indo-Pacific and is expanding its presence and capacities in the region. EDC is continuing to open new offices in the region as a part of its overall Indo-Pacific Strategy to support Canadian companies diversify into longer-term, higher-growth markets, and to complement existing representations in Delhi and Mumbai in India, in Shanghai and Beijing in China, in Sydney, Australia and in Singapore. In September and October 2023, EDC opened offices in Jakarta, Indonesia and Seoul, Republic of Korea.

In September and November 2024, EDC opened its ninth and tenth offices in the region, in Tokyo, Japan and in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The office in Japan speaks to the importance of Japan as a trade destination for Canada, which, as Canada’s fifth largest export market in 2023 presents significant opportunities for Canadian companies of all sizes. The representation will serve as a vital hub, offering the necessary on-the-ground support and tailored financial services that will enable Canadian businesses to succeed in the Japanese market, including the ability to collaborate closely with local agencies, government and partners to navigate market complexities and support business opportunities for exporters and investors. The office in Vietnam represents a strategic decision to support Canadian exporters and investors in accessing one of the world’s fastest-growing economies -Vietnam- which offers a unique combination of opportunities, including a cost-competitive business environment, proximity to other Indo-Pacific markets and a rapidly expanding middle class. With its commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050, Vietnam also presents significant potential in sectors like clean technology, agriculture, advanced manufacturing and infrastructure. By providing on-the-ground market intelligence, connections and financial solutions, EDC is positioned to help Canadian businesses thrive in this dynamic and high-growth market.

A key pillar in EDC’s Indo-Pacific Strategy relates to building strategic relationships in the region. It is through this type of engagement that EDC can help open doors and de-risk markets for Canada. In recent months, EDC signed agreements with 2 key regional players: PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (Persero), to increase collaboration in support of Indonesia’s growing need for infrastructure development and energy transition to net zero emissions; and the SK Group (see sidebar, “Growing Canadian partnerships in the Indo-Pacific”). Ultimately, both agreements will help to foster deeper trade collaboration, creating new and expanded opportunities for Canadian businesses.

While EDC’s efforts in the region have a long-term impact horizon, there have been a number of Canadian successes this year. Examples such as Northland Power, Coulson Aviation and Three Farmers Foods demonstrate that it is never too early for Canadian companies to look toward the Indo-Pacific. To provide Canadian companies with the confidence they need to take that next step, EDC has released a variety of tools designed to educate Canadian companies on the opportunities and challenges that exist in the region.

Growing Canadian partnerships in the Indo-Pacific

Canadian agriculture and agri-food promotion

Canada’s first Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office

In February 2024, through new investments from Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food officially opened Canada’s first Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO) in Manila, Philippines. The Minister was joined by Canadian stakeholders, government partners and dignitaries. This new office will support the sector’s trade in the region.

Since February 2024, the new team at the IPAAO and the wider Agriculture and Food Trade Commissioner Service network have been actively engaging and supporting activities to promote Canada’s activities in the region. This included increased Canadian presence at the region’s most prominent trade shows, such as FOODEX Japan, Seoul Food and Hotel, Food & Hotel Asia and Seafood Expo in Singapore, and WOFEX in the Philippines, as well as several business development activities, such as retail promotions and B2B events to build confidence in, and preference for, Canadian products. These initiatives have resulted in dozens of new Canadian exporters entering or selling new products in Indo-Pacific markets. 

In addition, the IPAAO was able to engage with significant events and activities under the Strategy; for example, the IPAAO partnered with the Canada-ASEAN Business Council to organize panel discussions and events that showcase the Canadian agricultural sector in the region, including some agricultural programming at the Canada-in-Asia Conference.

In advancing trade objectives in the sector, the IPAAO undertook technical and regulatory collaborative missions with government counterparts in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to promote effective food safety practices. The IPAAO also supported the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in various technical cooperation initiatives, including the planning and delivery of the Indo-Pacific Seminar in September 2024 and various initiatives in Canada, both virtual and in-person, in the region. This work will strengthen and support Canada’s technical reputation in the region in current negotiations on the Canada-ASEAN FTA and during the implementation of the Canada-Indonesia CEPA after it enters into force.

Market access for Canadian agriculture and agri-food

From a market access perspective, IPAAO efforts have contributed to broader Government of Canada successes in the region, including negotiations on import requirements for meat products in Malaysia, on fresh blueberries in Vietnam, and on heat-treated lumber import requirements and import permit issues for plant health products in the Philippines, among others.

The Indo-Pacific region is also home to several significant markets for Canadian cereals, pulses and meat, which account for billions of dollars in annual Canadian agri-food exports. To maintain and expand Canada’s market share, the Agriculture and Food Trade Commissioner Service in the Indo-Pacific continues to support annual missions by the Canola Council of Canada, Soy Canada, Cereals Canada, Canada Pork, Canada Beef and the Canadian Cattle Association to multiple markets in the region, including China, Japan, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam.

Canada has also been renewing digital marketing and e-commerce partnerships, increasing the visibility of the Canadian agri-food sector through targeted initiatives under the Canada brand in Japan and Vietnam. This includes the renewal of a year-long partnership with Rakuten, Japan’s largest e-commerce platform. Canada Fair, a dedicated e-commerce section on Rakuten, features over 300 Canadian food products, with sales increasing by more than 30% since 2022. Canada has also renewed its partnership with Shopee Mall and Shopee Food, some of Vietnam’s largest e-commerce platforms, which currently feature over 120 Canadian products. In addition, a second partnership with Grab, a major “quick commerce” platform, has allowed further promotion and sales of Canadian fresh foods and meats in Vietnam.

As part of Canada’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, Canada and Japan met for the first meeting of the Canada-Japan Agriculture Dialogue in November 2023, following a ministerial joint statement on strengthening cooperation on food security, sustainable agricultural production and food systems. Discussions on trade and investment, cooperation in science and technology, and food security policies will help position Canada as a reliable supplier of agricultural and agri-food products.

Food & Hotel Vietnam product showcase pavilion

In March 2024, Canada organized a Canada Pavilion at the Food & Hotel Vietnam trade show in Ho Chi Minh City to pilot the effectiveness of leveraging trade shows in the Indo-Pacific region, increase the visibility of Canadian food and beverage products, and support business development opportunities. Products from 13 Canadian companies were featured at the Canada Pavilion, where cooking demonstrations were held and samples were distributed. The trade show generated 99 trade leads for Canadian companies.

Enhancing partnerships on standardization

Canada is strengthening its partnerships on standardization in the region by providing additional resources to the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) through the Indo-Pacific Strategy, which will bolster Canada’s pre-existing efforts. These efforts, grounded in the development and use of international standards, aim to provide confidence to Canadian companies seeking to export to the Indo-Pacific region and will help position Canada as an engaged and reliable long-term partner in standardization.

As such, the SCC is actively strengthening Canada’s network of national and regional standards and conformance ties. In November 2023, the SCC and the Mongolian Agency for Standardization and Metrology signed a cooperation agreement to promote information-sharing, coordination and collaboration in areas of mutual interest.

Canada enhanced its participation in the APEC Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance (SCSC). Canada added its voice to regional policy discussions advocating for the importance of considering gender equality in standards development and the impacts of women’s underrepresentation in standards development activities. Similarly, Canada highlighted its efforts with key partners at the International Organization for Standardization to develop a framework for implementing environmental, social and governance principles.

In 2024, Canada successfully launched its first project within the APEC SCSC, launching a project designed to empower micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) by highlighting their critical role in international standards development and encouraging their active participation in international trade, with a strong focus on inclusivity. This project addresses a critical regional need, as MSMEs account for the majority of businesses in the APEC region and face significant barriers to global market access.

Employment and Social Development Canada’s Labour Program

Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy allocated additional funding to Employment and Social Development Canada’s Labour Program (ESDC-Labour), which amplifies the capacity of Canada to expand its long-standing technical assistance programming in Indo-Pacific countries with the aim of improving their compliance with labour commitments in current and future FTAs with Canada.

In March 2024, ESDC-Labour’s first 2 projects were launched and are now in their implementation phase. The first is a 5-year, $7-million project implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO) that targets trade-related sectors in ASEAN countries to facilitate sustained adherence to international labour standards by enabling better compliance with and enforcement of domestic labour laws, supporting women’s participation and leadership in unions, and promoting the elimination of forced and child labour.

The second is a 5-year, $2-million project that is being implemented by the ILO in trade-related sectors in the Philippines that supports the protection of workers’ rights, particularly freedom of association and the abolition of child labour, by building the capacity of Philippine labour, state and industry groups. These new projects build on and complement ongoing projects in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Strengthening natural-resources ties with the Indo-Pacific

Through new resources under the Indo-Pacific Strategy, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has newly deployed positions in Japan and the Republic of Korea, providing an increased capacity to advocate for Canadian energy, critical mineral, clean tech and forest product in these key markets. In addition, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources travelled to the region to promote Canada’s natural resources sectors and engage with stakeholders and partners. Increased Canadian engagement has facilitated the revival or creation of formal bilateral mechanisms to help engage with the region, resulting in increased cooperation with regional governments.

For example, this year the Canada-Japan Energy Policy Dialogue was reinvigorated. This is a forum where Canada regularly meets with counterparts from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to advance cooperation in carbon management, hydrogen, oil and gas, atomic energy and critical minerals. In addition, the first Battery Supply Chains Dialogue took place in October 2024, where an agreement was reached on an action plan for the Canada-Japan Memorandum of Cooperation on Battery Supply Chains.

Canada has also strengthened its relationship on natural resources with Taiwan through participation in the Canada-Taiwan Economic Consultations and involvement in the Canada-Taiwan Collaborative Framework on Supply Chains Resilience, which includes critical minerals and energy in its scope.

Canada and the Republic of Korea finalized an action plan to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Critical Mineral Supply Chains, the Clean Energy Transition and Energy Security. The MoU, signed in 2023 by Natural Resources Canada and Industry Canada and their Republic of Korea counterpart, will help develop secure, resilient and mutually beneficial critical mineral supply and value chains, achieve a sustainable energy transition and strengthen energy security. Canada is setting the foundation to be a lead in the global net-zero transition, which will benefit Canada’s natural resources. For example, Canada has launched joint projects with the Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials and the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources relating to carbon dioxide utilization and mineralization and to oilfield brines for carbon dioxide mineralization, respectively.

In Mongolia, the Mining Association of Canada signed an MoU with its Mongolian counterpart to implement the Towards Sustainable Mining initiative. NRCan has also signed an agreement with Mongolia’s National Geological Survey, officializing Canada’s technical support that will get Mongolia to map out its mining potential.

Highlighting the cross-cutting nature of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, during the Team Canada trade mission to the Republic of Korea, Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development held a high-level industry round table on energy transition and decarbonization. This featured 7 Canadian stakeholders covering energy producers, First Nations engagement and ports development. The Republic of Korea was represented by 7 partners representing energy users and importers from some of the Republic of Korea’s largest business conglomerates. The discussion reinforced Canada’s position as a committed energy security partner.

Investing in and connecting people

Canada and the Indo-Pacific region share extensive people-to-people ties, which are at the foundation of our engagement with the region. Canada has committed to strengthening these connections, whether through simplification of visa processes or increased opportunities for knowledge exchange programs.

Canada’s international assistance in the Indo-Pacific

Canada is deepening and expanding its role as development partner across the Indo-Pacific region. From expanding its bilateral assistance program with Indonesia, with whom Canada has been a development partner for more than 70 years, to renewing Canada’s bilateral development program in the Pacific Islands countries—Canada is both deepening cooperation with long-standing partners and expanding support to new partners in the region.

International assistance partnerships with Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam

Through the Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada is stepping up its commitment as a development partner with Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Canada is working to deepen its development cooperation with Indonesia. In May 2023, at a Senior Officials Meeting, Canada and Indonesia reinforced their partnership by signing an agreement of joint understanding on development cooperation. Under this framework Canada is helping Indonesia meet its climate and environmental targets, accelerate its energy transition, and promote more sustainable supply chains and livelihoods. Advancing gender equality underpins our work together: from strengthening sexual and reproductive health and rights, to reducing child, early and forced marriage, to supporting women’s leadership and helping women-led enterprises grow and thrive.

Canada is partnering with the Philippines to enhance climate action, including on energy transition, to improve disaster resilience, boost smallholder farmer incomes and support health outcomes. As the Philippines approaches the threshold of becoming an upper-middle-income country, Canada also intends to further support the role of trade and investment in the economy while sustaining efforts to ensure that the ongoing peace process in the Bangsamoro region remains on track. Across its programming and advocacy initiatives, Canada aims to empower women and girls as well as individuals from marginalized communities, such as Indigenous communities, in support of more inclusive development. These lines of effort align with the priorities identified in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. In February 2024, Canada’s Minister of International Development concluded International Development Week in Toronto by announcing $28.15 million in funding to the Philippines to support nature-based solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss and for increased health-care services.

Canada is expanding its development cooperation with Vietnam, with a focus on inclusive governance and addressing critical environmental and climate needs. Ongoing development programming has supported economic inclusion of vulnerable communities, including ethnic minorities and marginalized women, supporting technical and vocational training, access to finance, social entrepreneurship and impact investment. Dialogue with Vietnamese counterparts and relevant stakeholders has raised the possibility of opportunities for new development programming and policy exchanges in the coming years. Anticipated areas of development cooperation include biodiversity, climate adaptation and mitigation, nature-based solutions, support for access to justice and enhanced provision of public services to meet the evolving needs of Vietnam’s population.

High-level engagement on international development

In January 2024, Canada’s Minister of International Development visited Vietnam and the Philippines.

The visit to Vietnam included meetings with Vietnam’s Prime Minister, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Minister of Investment and Planning to discuss Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and alignment with Vietnam’s strategic development priorities, with a focus on climate change and environment and Canada’s support for Vietnam’s ambitious climate change agenda.

The visit to the Philippines included meetings with the Secretary of the National Economic Development Authority and the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to discuss the Strategy. The Minister also met with project partners that work in key areas that are priorities for Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and Feminist International Assistance Policy, such as health care and climate adaptation.

Reaffirming support to the Pacific Islands

Through the Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada has dedicated resources to renew its development program focused on the region and 13 Pacific Islands countries: Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

To support this new development program, in May 2024 Canada added a second officer to its high commission in Fiji as Canada deployed its first ever head of cooperation for the Pacific region. The new role of a head of cooperation in Suva contributes to raising the profile of Canada’s development program among the Pacific Islands countries, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and local civil society organizations and other donors, and plays a key role in ensuring that Canada’s assistance is better aligned with their needs.

This is supported by increased diplomatic engagement. Canada’s Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific represented Canada at the Pacific Islands Forum in the Cook Islands in 2023 and in Tonga in 2024.

Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development Program

The Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) Program aims to strengthen ties between Canada and ASEAN member states through education and research collaborations. Scholarships are awarded in fields that contribute to ASEAN’s efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A total of 616 students have successfully completed a SEED-funded study or research exchange in Canada since 2018. As part of the SEED Program, Canada offered 190 scholarships to students from the ASEAN region for the 2024 to 2025 academic year. The cohort of students will be undertaking short-term studies and research in Canada.

Participation of Lao students in the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development Program

For the first time, 3 talented young students from Laos have been awarded the scholarship. The SEED recipients from Laos have demonstrated exceptional academic achievements and a strong commitment to sustainable development. Two students will be pursuing their studies at the University of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, and the third will continue studying at the University of Calgary in Alberta.

Migration management and refugee protection

The Indo-Pacific region is critical to Canada’s domestic and international policy objectives related to migration management and refugee protection. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continues to actively engage with key regional partners to support these policy objectives and to contribute to government-wide efforts to maximize the effectiveness of Canada’s diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific.

Last year, Canada made progress in streamlining and increasing visa processing capacity, including support for work permit processing. Canada also worked to address irregular migration and increase protections for international students and migrant workers. Finally, Canada continued to enhance collaboration with key partners, governments and clients through events, field visits, engagement efforts and other initiatives connecting people to people in concrete ways across the Indo-Pacific.

Boosting Canada’s visa processing capacity

Canada has made concerted efforts to streamline and increase visa processing capabilities, thereby decreasing processing times for visa applicants in the region.

As highlighted in last year’s report, in March 2023 Canada opened an IRCC Global Operations Centre in Manila, Philippines—the first of its kind overseas—to boost global visa processing capacity and facilitate travel to Canada. One year on, in July 2024, the centre achieved the highest output of visitor visas per individual office within IRCC’s international footprint. The founding of this operations centre demonstrates Canada’s continued commitment to strengthening its presence in the region and the importance of bolstering its local capacity to support both the region and the greater global community.

Canada announced the launch of CAN Work Philippines, which coincided with the first ever Philippines–Canada Friendship Week. The pilot project streamlines work permit processing for eligible Canadian employers and allows employers to schedule group appointments for medical examinations and biometrics for potential employees so that skilled workers in the Philippines can come to Canada. The pilot is open to Canadian employers for critical occupations in sectors such as health care, construction and agri-food.

Additionally, in 2024, the capacity to print visas for official or diplomatic passport holders was also introduced at the Embassy of Canada to Mongolia, with the intention to facilitate official travel to Canada by Mongolian government officials and increase engagement.

In Thimphu, Bhutan, Canada held 2 mobile biometrics collection services to facilitate the visa application process for Bhutanese citizens. This unique project has helped to support the growing people-to-people ties between Bhutan and Canada, including Bhutanese students in Canada.

Bolstering protections for migrant workers

Canada is helping to protect migrant workers and others looking to come to Canada through a migration fraud awareness campaign in the Philippines. Fraud is a common concern for immigration clients but is a particular concern for migrant workers in the Philippines and the Indo-Pacific region. Migrant workers are vulnerable to abuse throughout the recruitment process, ranging from fake job offers and excessive fees to becoming victims of human trafficking.

To address these concerns, IRCC Manila launched a fraud awareness campaign in partnership with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) of the Philippines and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). IRCC collaborated with the DMW and IOM to ensure the fair and ethical treatment of migrant workers from the Philippines as per Canada and the Philippines’ commitments under the Global Compact for Migration.

Supporting refugee resettlement

In May 2024, officials from the IRCC office in Singapore and the High Commission of Canada in Bangladesh joined the IOM donor field visit to Bangladesh. This visit afforded Canada the opportunity to strengthen its relationships with IOM and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangladesh and, critically, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, which issues exit permits that allow refugees selected by IRCC to relocate to Canada under Canada’s Rohingya refugee resettlement commitments.

IRCC Manila and the Philippines’ Complementary Pathways Student Refugee Program

For the past 3 years, IRCC Manila engaged in the development of the Complementary Pathways (CPath) Student Refugee Program and supported an increase in protection space for Rohingya refugees in the Indo-Pacific.

To date, CPath has provided full scholarships and support for 14 Rohingya refugees at 6 different post-secondary institutions in the Philippines. Another 6 Rohingya refugee students will start full-time studies in the Philippines in October 2024. Responding to concerns shared by participating Philippine institutions, IRCC Manila provided technical expertise and support in student refugee settlement through facilitated workshops and targeted sessions with experts from the World University Service of Canada.

Most recently, IRCC Manila co-hosted the first ever Asia-Pacific Complementary Pathways Community of Practice meeting in Manila. The event brought together students with lived experiences of forced migration, practitioners, educators, advocates, policymakers and UNHCR representatives from across the Indo-Pacific.

Strengthening people-to-people exchanges and international assistance

Connecting Indigenous people from across Canada to the Indo-Pacific

Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy supports efforts of Indigenous peoples from across Canada to establish ties with Indigenous communities and organizations across the Indo-Pacific.

In July 2024, in commemoration of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the High Commission of Canada in Pakistan supported the visit of a Canadian Indigenous expert to Pakistan. The purpose of the visit was to draw from Canadian lessons and experiences to provide capacity-building on community engagement models, cultivating safe spaces and community planning models. 

The Embassy of Canada to Japan also supported Indigenous-to-Indigenous relations. For example, in December 2023, the embassy facilitated meetings between a Canadian Indigenous delegation, which was part of a British Columbia forest sector mission, and Japanese Indigenous groups.

Engaging Canadian civil society in the implementation of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy

The second year of the Strategy resulted in heightened engagement with Canadian civil society, demonstrated by a series of round tables that were shaped by collaboration between Global Affairs Canada, Cooperation Canada and the Inter-Council Network (ICN).

In January, Cooperation Canada hosted a hybrid kick-off event, hosted by Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa, which welcomed over 200 representatives from the Canadian civil society sector for a national consultation event. In October 2024, the momentum continued as the Quebec, British Columbia and Ontario councils of the ICN hosted round-table events in Montréal, Vancouver and Toronto, engaging approximately 180 representatives further spanning Canadian civil society, academia, youth and diaspora groups. Such engagements ensure that Canada embraces the Strategy’s whole-of-society approach, leveraging sectoral expertise and insights.

This engagement was informed by Canada’s Civil Society Partnerships for International Assistance Policy and by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Development Assistance Committee Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance.

Development Partners Forum in Manila, Philippines

In February 2024, Canada hosted a Development Partners Forum in Manila as part of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Canada and the Philippines. The event, which coincided with International Development Week, gathered together more than 50 representatives from civil society organizations, multilateral institutions and government, creating a platform for dialogue and collaboration. The embassy shared progress on the Strategy implementation, highlighting the development impact of its different programs. Meanwhile, the Government of the Philippines shared progress on its national development plan.

The forum centred on discussions aligning Canada’s international assistance with the priorities of the Philippines, including disaster risk and resilience, climate action, food security, peace and security, gender equality and health. Development partners also had the unique opportunity to exchange ideas and initiatives, explore potential collaborations, and forge new and innovative partnerships.

Indo-Pacific Engagement Initiative

As part of its commitment to engage with the region and ensure knowledge exchange, Canada in 2024 launched the Indo-Pacific Engagement Initiative (IPEI). This initiative is designed to connect Canadians with regional counterparts, strengthen Canada’s engagement in the region, and accelerate Canada’s ability to develop effective networks and form strategic partnerships.

As part of the IPEI, 3 programs were established in 2024: the Regional Engagement Envelope, Asia Competency Initiative and Commissioned Research Program, which provide funding to Government of Canada departments and public servants to support a range of activities that will strengthen the knowledge and networks of the Canadian government in the region.

Another program, the Regional Connectivity Envelope, provides funding to the Canadian non-governmental sector to host or participate in events in the region or in Canada on themes relevant to the Strategy, enabling Canadians to build networks in the Indo-Pacific. This was also established in 2024.

Building a sustainable and green future

Canada is committed to fighting climate change and biodiversity loss and has developed expertise in several areas, including clean technology, oceans management, energy transition and climate finance.

Support to address resilience and climate change

In October 2024, at the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit, Canada’s Prime Minister announced that the Canadian federal government is investing over $84 million in the region to fight climate change, support innovation and protect the environment.

In the same month, in the context of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16), the Minister of International Development announced $12.5 million to strengthen biodiversity conservation and resilient ecosystems in climate-vulnerable and marginalized communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh. This announcement builds on efforts already underway in Bangladesh through Canadian-funded projects supporting locally led adaptation to climate change and the integration of nature-based solutions in infrastructure design and urban planning.

In Mongolia, Canada launched the $10-million Enhancing Community Climate Options for Adaptation and Resilience in Mongolia (ECCO-FARM) project aimed at supporting Mongolia’s transition toward a climate-smart agriculture, working with key stakeholders such as government and research institutions as well as farmers and herders.

Canada as a development partner in Southeast Asia

Canada’s support to fight climate change and protect the environment includes $2 million in institutional funding to the Mekong River Commission as a development partner. In October 2024, while in Laos for the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit—the first-ever visit of a Canadian prime minister to Laos—Canada’s Prime Minister met with officials from the Mekong River Commission to discuss the economic and food security dimensions of water resource management.

Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia

In June 2024, at the G7 Leaders’ Summit, the Prime Minister announced a $360-million repayable contribution to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to establish the Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia (CANPA). The fund will mobilize private capital toward inclusive climate change mitigation and adaptation projects. This will accelerate the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies and advance gender equality in sectors such as renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture and nature-based solutions.

CANPA continues Canada’s long-standing partnership with the ADB on climate finance, which started in 2013 with the Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia (CFPS), with funding of $82.4 million, and its second iteration in 2017, with funding of $200 million. For example, Canada’s contribution supports the Monsoon Wind Power Project, which received over $40 million in funding from the CFPS. This project, the first large-scale wind power project in Laos and the first cross-border wind power project in Asia, is an innovative support to climate-resilient economies.

Canadian engagement on environment and climate change

In the past year, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) continued its active engagement in the region, fostering collaboration and strengthening relationships with multiple partners. Throughout the year, ECCC worked with Global Affairs Canada to enhance the government’s understanding of the unmet needs of Small Islands Development States (SIDS), including Pacific Islands countries, as it pertains to loss and damage caused by climate change. As part of its involvement on the board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, Canada, represented by ECCC, has advocated for the fund to prioritize its activities on the most climate-vulnerable communities, such as SIDS and least developed countries.

Partnerships and cooperation

Canada strengthened its partnership with the Republic of Korea through the announcement of a memorandum of understanding on climate change cooperation with the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Additionally, Canada engaged in discussions with counterparts at Vietnam’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment regarding the development of a similar MoU to further enhance collaborative action on climate action in the Indo-Pacific region.

In 2024, the Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change invited China’s Minister of Ecology and Environment to co-lead the Nature Champions Network, an initiative to ensure that the political will to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework remains front and centre in the international conversation.

Canada also facilitated a scoping study on market-based mechanisms to inform China’s approach to carbon pricing as part of its work with the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development.

In early 2024, Canada became co-chair of Vietnam’s National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Gender and Social Inclusion taskforce, which aims to develop and deliver collective gender and inclusivity interventions that will contribute to the strategic goals of NPAP for plastic pollution reduction. Canada has played an important role in bringing all actors together to drive inclusive and gender-responsive solutions to Vietnam’s plastics issue, focusing on the circular economy.

In fall 2024, ECCC officials and representatives of Japan’s Ministry of the Environment held 2 sessions to share information on their respective approaches to managing plastic pollution, including legislation and frameworks, federal and subnational responsibilities, and standards.

In December 2023, ECCC, along with Statistics Canada, entered a partnership with Australia and the United States to cooperate on natural capital accounting. Recognizing the critical role of the stocks of natural assets in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss as well as in economic growth and prosperity, the partnership aims to promote efforts to improve environmental-economic accounting and integrate it into planning and decision making.

Climate change ambassador’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific

In March 2024, Canada’s Ambassador for Climate Change travelled to Vietnam and Japan to advance Canada’s international climate and environment priorities with those 2 countries and advocate for the Indo-Pacific Strategy. The Ambassador met with senior government officials, private sector groups, representatives of international organizations receiving Canadian funding, environmental non-governmental organizations and multilateral development banks.

In Tokyo, discussions focused on ongoing United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations on plastics, energy transition and coal phase-out, and 2 Canadian-led initiatives that are shaping global environment policy: the Global Carbon Pricing Challenge (GCPC) and the Nature Champions Network.

In Hanoi, the Ambassador, with the CEO of FinDev Canada, held discussions focused on Canadian priorities in Vietnam, including finance mobilization for carbon markets and the GCPC, development assistance, and energy transition capacity-building and project implementation.

The Ambassador for Climate Change also held the second annual Climate Change Dialogue with the Republic of Korea to advance shared priorities in addressing the climate change crisis and its impact on human security. Held on the margins of COP29, the Dialogue served to strengthen cooperation in achieving net zero and in collaborating on major global climate initiatives, such as the GCPC.

Engagement with Small Island Developing States

In February 2024, the Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change hosted a ministerial round table with Small Island Developing States, including the Pacific Islands countries, on the margins of the United Nations Environment Assembly. The goal was to identify opportunities for collaboration on critical issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss and plastic pollution. This event underscored Canada’s commitment to addressing pressing global environmental challenges in partnership with vulnerable nations.

Throughout the year, Environment and Climate Change Canada worked with Global Affairs Canada to enhance the government’s understanding of the unmet needs of SIDS, including the Pacific Islands countries, in particular the loss and damage caused by climate change. As part of its involvement on the board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, Canada has advocated for the fund to prioritize its activities on the most climate-vulnerable communities, such as SIDS and least developed countries.

In addition, as island nations, Sri Lanka and Maldives are particularly vulnerable to climate change-related impacts such as rising sea levels. Through the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives and technical assistance programming, Canada is implementing several projects focused on the environment in both Sri Lanka and Maldives focused on the environment.

Canada’s Shared Ocean Fund

Canada’s Shared Ocean Fund, a $84.3-million initiative through the Indo-Pacific Strategy, aims to increase maritime cooperation and create a healthy marine environment in the Indo-Pacific region while supporting measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. To accomplish this, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is taking a 3-pronged approach through enhanced governance, enforcement and partnerships.

Governance

Canada has continued to champion the adoption of stronger rules around international fishing, including science-based management measures and effective compliance-monitoring schemes at multilateral bodies such as regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) to ensure the sustainable management of shared fish stocks and combat IUU fishing.

For example, this past year Canada was instrumental in the adoption of a full-harvest strategy for North Pacific albacore tuna to keep the stock healthy. In April 2024, Canada successfully supported an enforceable ban on the retention of salmon and steelhead trout species on board vessels in the North Pacific Ocean. This initiative will contribute to the protection of Canada’s Pacific salmon, which are at risk of being intercepted in international waters. Canada is also providing financial support to 2 RFMOs, the North Pacific Fisheries Commission and the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

Enforcement

In October 2024, Fisheries and Oceans Canada led the second high seas mission to detect and deter IUU fishing in the North Pacific Ocean as part of Operation North Pacific Guard. This included the first port visit to Japan of a Canadian Coast Guard vessel, the Sir Wilfred Laurier, which docked in Yokohama in October 2024. While at sea, fishery officers conducted lawful inspections of 15 fishing vessels and found illegally harvested shark fins, evidence of fishing during a closed season and unreported catch, and documented instances of marine pollution. In addition to monitoring and enforcement by sea, Canada conducted aerial surveillance out of Hokkaido, Japan, where daily patrols built on the work of the 2023 mission to monitor the Pacific Northwest. In collaboration with Japan and the Republic of Korea, DFO fishery officers and an air crew flew a total of 50,419 nautical miles over the course of 34 patrols and visually inspected 407 vessels. During these patrols, officers reported shark finning, the targeted harvest of dolphins, pollution incidents and vessel marking violations. Canada is now working with the appropriate flag states to support further investigations and sanctions on offending vessels.

Canada will be providing contribution funding to 2 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to continue strengthening enforcement and capacity building in the Philippines. In addition, to further advance regional coordination and fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance capacity among fisheries organizations in the Indo-Pacific region, Canada will be providing funding to the IMCS Network.

Partnerships

Canada has equipped regional partners with advanced satellite surveillance through its Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) program to support the fight against IUU fishing. The platform identifies vessels that disable their location transponders to evade monitoring, control and surveillance.

In November 2023, Canada launched the DVD platform in the Philippines, enabling the country to track illegal fishing activities and enhance maritime security. Over 120 operators from Philippine agencies have been trained and are actively using the system. The platform has provided real-time intelligence on suspicious vessels, improving patrol planning and enforcement efforts. DVD has become central to Philippine monitoring of the South China Sea, significantly boosting the country’s maritime domain awareness.

In the Pacific Islands, Canada’s collaboration with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has also been impactful. During Operation Island Chief 2024, Canada helped the FFA’s Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre detect dark fishing activity. The DVD platform guided patrols and aerial surveillance, resulting in several successful interceptions of illegal fishing activities across vast exclusive economic zones.

Canada has also supported efforts to combat IUU fishing in the South Pacific through the delivery of the same innovative DVD technologies to 15 small Pacific Islands countries in collaboration with the FFA and key regional partners, including New Zealand, Australia and the United States. Canada’s DVD program has supported persistent space-based monitoring of the region’s offshore fisheries resources in support of collaborative efforts to ensure the protection of marine ecosystem health and sustainability for the many Pacific Islands countries which rely so heavily on these resources for food security, employment and national revenues.

Finally, Canada’s efforts to address IUU fishing in the Indo-Pacific have recognized the importance of encompassing holistic approaches to fisheries monitoring, compliance and surveillance, extending beyond the mere provisioning of novel technologies by prioritizing efforts to strengthen human and institutional capacity.

This has been achieved through Canada’s funding of $6.5 million over 5 years to the Joint Analytical Cell, a coalition of world-leading NGO experts that has successfully delivered support to many nations and organizations within the region to boost training, intelligence, transparency and coordination in order to enhance regional capabilities in combatting illegal fishing.

Several other outcomes in support of these objectives have also been achieved, including the deployment of Canadian fisheries enforcement subject matter experts to support training and analysis and the provision of much- needed fisheries patrol assets for under-equipped agencies in the Philippines.

Furthermore, in August 2024, DFO provided funding to the Ocean Conservancy’s Global Ghost Gear Initiative. This collaboration aims to reduce the scope and impact of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in the Indo-Pacific by increasing the uptake of best practices for managing ALDFG and by facilitating robust data and better decision making to address this issue. This work will also help reduce IUU fishing in the region by strengthening comprehensive fisheries management, including gear-marking, gear-loss reporting, and associated best practices and policies. In November 2024, a capacity building workshop was held to provide training and foster knowledge-sharing on the implementation of ALDFG management.

Supporting sustainable infrastructure development

Canada recognizes that sustainable infrastructure contributes to advancing climate resilience and to lessening the impact of natural threats on people and the economy.

Mobilizing private investment

In April 2024, Canada became a member of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), an innovative infrastructure developer and investor that mobilizes private investment in sustainable and inclusive infrastructure in Southeast Asia.

Canada’s funding includes $15 million to InfraCo Asia, PIDG’s project development arm, which provides financing and expertise to de-risk early-stage infrastructure projects and make them bankable. It also includes $10 million for technical assistance to support PIDG’s gender-lens investments efforts, increase opportunities for women in PIDG’s existing investments, and document and share lessons learned on gender and infrastructure. The infrastructure that PIDG develops and finances will enable job creation and higher living standards, unlocking opportunities for youth and fast-growing populations, and helping to shape inclusive economies that reduce poverty.

FinDev Canada in the Indo-Pacific

In addition, through Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada announced a $750-million recapitalization to expand the capacity of FinDev Canada, which provides financing, investment and blended finance solutions to support sustainable and inclusive growth in emerging markets and developing economies. This recapitalization was announced as part of Canada’s contribution toward the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, and will support high-quality, sustainable infrastructure in the region.

FinDev Canada is now engaging with partners throughout the region, prioritizing opportunities related to sustainable infrastructure and currently evaluating several potential transactions, focusing initially on smaller to mid-size projects, which is the “missing middle” in infrastructure finance. FinDev Canada is deepening its focus on sub-sectors such as renewable energy, transportation, water and digital infrastructure.

Supporting climate change and clean energy transitions in the Indo-Pacific

Investing in low-carbon development

Cement and concrete are critical to urbanization and economic expansion as well as investment in low-carbon and climate-resilient development, yet the sector contributes 7% to 8% of carbon dioxide emissions globally. In response, Canada has taken a leading role in addressing this challenge by committing $8 million over 3 years through its climate finance envelope to help Thailand decarbonize its cement and concrete sector.

The program is implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and is designed to strengthen climate governance for cement and concrete. It involves collaboration with both public and private stakeholders to align sectoral action toward net-zero carbon concrete. Activities support the development of policies, standards and practices, promote clean technologies and strengthen experience-sharing with other Indo-Pacific countries.

Reducing waste and transitioning to clean energy

Waste is the third largest source of methane emissions, and it offers some of the most cost-effective methane mitigation solutions. To help address this, Canada has been engaged in promoting recycling programs that build capacity and promote environmentally friendly waste management policies.

Building on the significant success of Canada’s $7-million Reciclo Orgánicos program in Chile, Canada has committed $7.5 million over 4 years to replicate the program’s approach in 6 small island states, including Fiji and Samoa. The program is being implemented by the U.S. Center for Clean Air Policy, with the view to accelerating the implementation of methane mitigation projects in the waste sector and creating enabling conditions for the sustained expansion of organic waste management technologies.

Canada is also a key player in the global effort to phase out unabated coal power and accelerate the transition to renewable energy in Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, all of which face significant challenges in phasing out coal and accelerating renewable energy uptake.

As such, Canada provides funding to the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (SEA ETP), which is supported by a unique blend of country donors and philanthropic organizations. The SEA ETP works directly with governments, utilities and regulators to support the implementation of priorities set in their climate plans, help identify and address obstacles hindering coal phase-out, develop regulations and create an environment that will attract investments for clean infrastructure projects. The SEA ETP also works directly on the ambitious work undertaken through the Indonesia and Vietnam Just Energy Transition Partnerships and fosters South-South collaboration through regional round tables.

10.5-megawatt solar power plant in Cambodia

Through investments of upwards of $20 million per year in development assistance supporting gender equality, food security and climate resilience programs in Cambodia, Canada was able to support the building of a 10.5-megawatt solar power plant in Bavet, Svay Rieng province. This plant is the first utility-scale solar photovoltaic project in the country.

Through such investments, Canada was also able to support the development of a national solar park in Kampong Chhnang province for a 60-megawatt alternating current solar photovoltaic power plant, the first large-scale solar park in Southeast Asia.

By providing funding in the form of loans, Canada has been helping to de-risk renewable energy initiatives and bring to market private sector climate mitigation and adaptation projects that would unlikely proceed solely on a commercial basis.

Canada as an active and engaged partner to the Indo-Pacific

In the second year of implementation, the Indo-Pacific Strategy has focused on following through on Canada’s commitment to remain engaged and active in the region across the Strategy’s strategic objectives.

Diplomatic engagement in the region

Canada has been engaged in consistent high-level diplomatic engagement in 2024, bolstering relationships with key partners across the Indo-Pacific. This included high-level engagement at multilateral summits as well as bilateral visits to increase engagement in the region. In July 2024, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Beijing to meet with China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to pragmatic engagement.

ASEAN-Canada high-level engagement

The past year was marked by significant engagement at the highest levels. 2024 marked the 47th anniversary of ASEAN-Canada relations, and 1 year since the Canada-ASEAN Strategic Partnership was established.

In October 2024, Canada’s Prime Minister and Canada’s Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development participated in an ASEAN-Canada Special Summit on Enhancing ASEAN Connectivity and Resilience, which was held on the margins of the Leaders’ Summit in Vientiane, Laos. This marked the fifth ASEAN Summit that the Prime Minister attended in total, and the third consecutive year of his attendance. Regular high-level engagement such as this signals Canada’s increasingly active role as a partner to ASEAN and in the region.

Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development also attended high-level ministerial exchanges with their ASEAN counterparts as part of Canada’s robust engagement with ASEAN. In addition to accompanying Canada’s Prime Minister to the ASEAN-Canada Special Summit, the trade minister participated in Canada-ASEAN consultations as part of the 56th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting, highlighting the great progress made over the past year in ASEAN-Canada economic relations.

Additionally, in July 2024, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs attended the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, where she cemented the positive relationship between Canada and ASEAN and exchanged views on key regional and international issues. In addition, the Minister co-chaired the annual ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with Canada on the margins of the meeting. 

Canada-Japan high-level engagement

Canada’s Prime Minister met regularly with his Japanese counterpart. There were 4 multilaterals between the Prime Minister of Canada and the Prime Minister of Japan between November 2023 and November 2024, with discussions focused on strengthening the Canada and Japan partnership and our common commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. These visits built on a Team Canada trade mission to Japan led by the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, and Economic Development in 2023.

In January 2024, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs met her Japanese counterpart in Montréal to discuss regional and global peace and security challenges and progress made in strengthening collaboration between Canada and Japan under the Action Plan and the Indo-Pacific Strategy.

In July 2024, the Minister reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to working closely with Japan in the Indo-Pacific and globally to uphold the rules-based international order when she travelled to Tokyo to meet with Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and other senior Japanese interlocutors.

Canada-Republic of Korea engagement

Canada-Republic of Korea Foreign and Defence (2+2) Ministerial Meeting

In November 2024, the ministers of foreign affairs and ministers of national defence of Canada and the Republic of Korea met in Ottawa for the inaugural Canada-Republic of Korea Foreign and Defence (2+2) Ministerial Meeting. This built upon the elevation of the diplomatic relationship to that of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) in 2023 and is a key deliverable of the CSP Action Plan launched in July 2024 during the visit to the Republic of Korea of Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Canada-Republic of Korea Year of Cultural Exchanges

Canada and the Republic of Korea are celebrating the Year of Cultural Exchanges in 2024 to 2025. The year-long commemoration was officially launched through a memorandum of understanding, which was signed in June 2024 during a meeting between the Republic of Korea’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Canada’s Minister of Canadian Heritage. To celebrate the Year of Cultural Exchanges, a series of cultural events were scheduled in both countries. Highlights include the Canada and Korea Literature Exchange Program at the WOW Book Festival in Seoul; the Canadian Film Festival in Korea, which was organized in collaboration with both Telefilm Canada and the Toronto International Film Festival; the Canadian Pavilion at the Gwangju Biennale, featuring Inuit art from the West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative in Kinngait; and an exhibition of virtual reality and augmented reality installations produced by the National Film Board of Canada.

Canada-Republic of Korea dialogue on North Korean human rights

Canada is committed to advocating for the human rights of the North Korean people. In 2024, Canada and the Republic of Korea launched a bilateral dialogue on North Korean human rights, discussing a broad range of issues, including the rights of women and girls, international advocacy and engagement, and the UN Human Rights Council’s November 2024 Universal Periodic Review of North Korea.

Canada-Cambodia engagements

In September 2024, inaugural bilateral consultations took place between Canada and Cambodia in Ottawa. Organized by Global Affairs Canada and including the ministries of foreign affairs and commerce of Cambodia, the consultations covered a range of topics on bilateral cooperation, trade and investment relations, ASEAN, and regional and global issues.

Uplifting Canada’s diplomatic capacities

At the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in October 2024, Canada’s Prime Minister announced that Canada will be upgrading its existing offices in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Vientiane, Laos into full embassies with resident ambassadors in 2025.

These offices were initially opened in 2015 and 2016, respectively, with Canada’s ambassador to Thailand currently accredited to both. With this change, Canada will soon be represented by full embassies in all ASEAN member states.

To support Canada’s increased engagement in the Indo-Pacific through the Strategy, Canada committed to deploying more than 100 new personnel across the region. In 2024, over 70 of these personnel were now in place, with the remaining to be deployed in 2025.

Canada Pavilion at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka

Canada will join more than 160 countries and international organizations in welcoming over 28 million expected visitors to the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan.

The Canada Pavilion at the Expo will highlight the theme of “regeneration,” aligning with the overarching expo theme of designing a future society centred on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Canada will also focus on Indigenous themes and youth empowerment.

In March 2024, a ground-breaking ceremony for the Canada Pavilion took place with Canada’s Ambassador to Japan and Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific and the Commissioner General for Canada at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. They were joined by the Governor of Osaka and representatives from Canada’s Tokyo-based provincial offices.

More broadly, Expo 2025 Osaka will foster global dialogue and seek solutions that will help create more sustainable societies. Canada will focus on quality education, gender equality and commitment to climate action. Through welcoming spaces, public presentations, cultural activities and engagement, Expo visitors and Indo-Pacific partners will be invited to come together to discover more about Canada. Canada’s participation at this World Expo will provide our partners with a preeminent platform to advance Canada’s interests in Japan and the Indo-Pacific region.

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada enhancement

In December 2023, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) held a 2-city, 6-day women-only business mission to the Republic of Korea and Thailand with full support of the 2 Canadian embassies. The event featured 2 high-level memoranda of understanding, signings by Lydia AI, a leading Canadian health AI company, 216 business-to-business meetings with regional partners, and engagement with 336 companies and organizations in the Republic of Korea and Thailand.

In 2024, APF Canada moved ahead with several programs under its regional expansion, including the first Indo-Pacific Visiting Scholar, who spoke with Canadian stakeholders in Montréal, Ottawa and Toronto in October 2024.

In October 2024, at the Arctic Circle Assembly, AFP Canada organized a panel titled “The View of the Canadian Arctic Through an Indo-Pacific Lens,” which convened 3 speakers from Japan and Canada. This was part of a series of programming on the linkages between the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific, with a next event in the series scheduled to take place in Singapore in early 2025.

In November 2024, APF Canada supported speakers from the region, including New Zealand and Singapore, and Indigenous participants from Canada, to take part in the CPTPP Policy Forum on Inclusive Trade.

Canada-in-Asia Conference 2024

In February 2024, APF Canada hosted the 2024 Canada-in-Asia Conference on agri-food and climate solutions in Singapore, in partnership with Universities Canada and with the support of Global Affairs Canada.

The event attracted over 460 attendees from Canada and Asia, including from more than 35 cities across the Indo-Pacific, and served as a platform for knowledge-sharing and engagement between subject matter experts, investors, policymakers, researchers, business leaders and innovators interested in developing new and strengthened connections between Canada and Asia. These dual events marked the second edition of the Canada-in-Asia Conference series, and the first edition to take a sector-specific approach.

Provincial, territorial and whole-of-society partnerships in the region

Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy is a whole-of-society effort that offers a renewed approach to the Indo-Pacific amid a generational global shift. The approach guides Canada’s actions on our relationships in the region. This means that the work of engaging with the region to benefit both Canadians and the people in the Indo-Pacific goes beyond the federal government.

As a result, the federal government has embarked on outreach across Canada to meet with stakeholders, including industry, think tanks, universities, colleges and civil society organizations, to discuss Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. Topics for discussion include achievements, future planning and opportunities for collaboration. Such outreach has taken place in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan, with future outreach planned for Yukon.

This section of the report highlights some of the important work undertaken by provincial and territorial governments, the private sector, and academic and research institutions across Canada, and highlights a range of plans, activities and projects. Some are independent projects that have not been funded under the Strategy or conducted with the financial support of the federal government but that align with the broad objectives of the Strategy and underscore the importance of a coordinated approach to Canada’s prosperity. Others are supported by the work of the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the federal government but are showcased here to further highlight the ways in which the Strategy is truly a whole-of-society and not just a whole-of-government approach.

Atlantic Canada’s Indo-Pacific engagement plan

In support of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency has spearheaded, in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada and the 4 Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) the development of Atlantic Canada’s Indo-Pacific engagement plan. Recognizing the growing imperative for Canadian businesses to diversify their export markets, the plan provides support to prepare Atlantic Canadian companies and industry associations for market entry into a critically important region for global economic growth. Positioned as a follow-up initiative to build on the momentum from the Team Canada trade mission to Malaysia and Vietnam in March 2024, approximately 20 businesses and industry associations have registered for a return to these 2 markets through the plan’s inaugural trade mission, as well as participation in the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s Canada-in-Asia Conference in Singapore, which took place in February 2025.

Quebec creates 2 research chairs in Indo-Pacific studies

In fall 2023, 2 research chairs dedicated to the Indo-Pacific were officially created in Quebec: the chair of partnership research in Indo-Pacific studies at Université Laval, and the chair of Asian and Indo-Pacific studies, based at the Montreal Centre for International Studies at the Université de Montréal.

Financially supported by Quebec’s Minister of International Relations and the Francophonie as part of the Quebec government’s territorial strategy for the Indo-Pacific, these research chairs aim to consolidate centres of expertise in the region and are mandated to contribute to a better understanding of geopolitical issues in the region for the benefit of both the research community and the general public. They also promote the production and dissemination of knowledge about the Indo-Pacific in French.

With a multidisciplinary and multi-university vocation, the chairs carry out work on a variety of subjects, including strategy, diplomacy, economics and trade, as well as social, political, environmental and emerging issues.

Amplifying regional collaboration across the Pacific: Highlights from Simon Fraser University’s engagement via the Association of Pacific Rim Universities

Since joining the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) in 2021, Simon Fraser University (SFU) has advanced key opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region. SFU played a leading role in establishing the APRU Food Security and AgriTech Program, which aims to train the next generation of researchers through knowledge exchange. The program hosted a successful inaugural webinar series in 2024.

One of the highlights was participation in an APRU expert panel at the 2024 Canada-in-Asia Conference. SFU is actively engaged in addressing climate and sustainability challenges through its involvement in the APRU Sustainable Cities and Landscapes (SCL) Program and its hosting of the eighth annual SCL Conference in 2025. Under the theme “Living with Water,” the conference will explore the social, ecological and economic dimensions of urban sustainability.

Additionally, for the past 2 years, SFU has co-led a virtual academy promoting the Sustainable Development Goals. These initiatives highlight SFU’s commitment to tackling global challenges by fostering academic cooperation and regional engagement through the APRU platform, creating impactful opportunities for Canada and its partners in the Indo-Pacific region.

Toronto Metropolitan University’s Global Justice and Change Program: Indigenous global learning using an equity and justice-oriented lens

The Haudenosaunee Leaders and Writers (with Māori component) course, offered through Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Global Justice and Change program, offered Indigenous students a unique opportunity to engage in a faculty-led global learning initiative. The undergraduate course included a 2-week trip to New Zealand (Aotearoa in Māori) funded by the Government of Canada’s Global Skills Opportunity program. The trip focused on exploring Haudenosaunee culture and wisdom in New Zealand through an equity and justice-oriented lens. Designed through a collaboration between TMU’s Global Justice and Change program, Faculty of Arts and Gdoo-maawnjidimi Mompii Indigenous Student Services, in partnership with Auckland University of Technology, this initiative exemplifies how Indigenous perspectives, equity and social justice can be integrated into global learning programs within higher education.

Through this immersive and credit-based experience, 15 students explored the connections between Indigenous philosophies, leadership and histories in both cultural contexts and developed a broader understanding of Indigenous perspectives domestically and internationally.

University of Calgary advances water innovation in Japan-Canada collaboration

The University of Calgary’s Advancing Canadian Water Assets (ACWA) team engaged in a successful partnership-building visit to Japan. Coordinated by LM Wastewater Solutions and hosted by the Japan Sewage Works Agency (JS), this initiative strengthened international ties and advanced joint water technology projects.

The partnership, supported by a recently signed memorandum of understanding between the University of Calgary and JS, focuses on bringing innovative Japanese wastewater treatment technologies to Canada for pilot testing. Technologies such as Jokaso, developed by FujiClean, and the Prefabricated Oxidation Ditch (POD) System, developed by JS, will be trialed at ACWA’s Pine Creek Wastewater Treatment facility to assess their effectiveness in cold climates. These projects hold significant potential for small and remote Canadian communities, including First Nations, offering improved wastewater treatment solutions in challenging environments.

In addition to technology pilots, discussions explored further collaboration opportunities, including the integration of technologies for Calgary’s hydrogen industry and the establishment of a MetaWater water reuse demonstration centre. This strategic partnership positions the University of Calgary as a leader in wastewater innovation and demonstrates its commitment to fostering sustainable solutions and advancing technology exchange in the Indo-Pacific region.

Global partnership for food and water security in Bangladesh

In 2024, a unique multilateral partnership was launched between the University of Saskatchewan (Canada), Wageningen University & Research (Netherlands), and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council. The partnership seeks to leverage the collective knowledge, expertise and resources of these world-leading institutions to advance climate resiliency through food and water security in Bangladesh.

The partnership was formally announced in Wageningen, Netherlands in May 2024 and was followed by a symposium in July 2024, the “Research Symposium on Climate Resilience and Food Security in Bangladesh,” hosted in Canada by the University of Saskatchewan and the Global Institute for Food Security. Attended by more than 200 participants in person and online from around the world, the symposium featured world-leading experts in a variety of areas, including crop breeding, flood forecasting, saline encroachment, ag tech, carbon sequestration, data mapping, climate financing and more.

University of Toronto India Foundation

In a powerful demonstration of its commitment to India, the University of Toronto (U of T) recently launched the U of T India Foundation (UTIF), its research and entrepreneurship centre in Mumbai. The centre’s initial focus is the development of sustainable cities, an important priority for both Toronto and many Indian cities.

Supported by the Tata Trusts, one of India’s oldest philanthropic organizations, the centre facilitates research, teaching and entrepreneurship partnerships for U of T community members seeking to co-create solutions to urban challenges with India-based partners. Opportunities for experiential learning and powerful—and meaningful—global engagement abound as UTIF’s activities continue to accelerate.

In fall 2024, students and faculty from U of T and India’s Ashoka University embarked on urban development projects that empowered India’s renowned SWaCH urban waste collectors cooperative and redesigned underused urban spaces. The India centre is also partnering with Social Alpha, based in the Indian city of Bengaluru, to offer Techtonic: Innovations in Sustainable Urban Transition, an incubation program for India-based entrepreneurs developing sustainable cities innovations that includes coaching from Indian and U of T faculty experts. The centre also united experts from India, Canada and around the world to exchange research at the AI and the City conference held in Bangalore in January 2025.

India as a priority market for New Brunswick

In 2021, the New Brunswick Crown corporation Opportunities NB identified India as a priority market and, more recently, implemented a wide range of trade programs and support for export trade initiatives. Leveraging its 2 foreign offices in India, Opportunities NB has worked closely with 70 New Brunswick-based companies, offering personalized export counselling, facilitating warm introductions to Indian suppliers, and hosting 20 webinars and virtual training sessions. Additionally, the export team delivered a virtual B2B matchmaking program created for 10 companies across multiple sectors, including seafood.

Building on this momentum, a delegation of 8 New Brunswick companies (4 seafood and 4 multi-sector) travelled to India in November 2024 for a trade mission. The mission featured B2B matchmaking, networking sessions and site visits designed to help New Brunswick companies build valuable connections and expand into the world’s fastest-growing economy.

As a result of these efforts, New Brunswick-based haircare company Inca Glow secured a distributor in India with a client having 170 salon locations as an initial point of entry that could result in $5 million to $10 million in revenue. Opportunities NB’s on-the-ground staff in India were able to bring forward qualified large clients in the distribution network, thus accelerating the process.

Strengthening commercial relations in the region by participating in Team Canada trade missions

In March 2024, Prince Edward Island (PEI) sent delegates from the City of Summerside and the PEI Wild Blueberry Growers Association to attend the Team Canada trade mission to the Republic of Korea. Participating in this trade mission served as a unique occasion to explore commercial opportunities and laid the foundation for furthering economic ties in the region.

Victoria Co-operative Fisheries Limited in the Canada Export Café mission to the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Macau

Over the past few years, Victoria Co-operative Fisheries Limited has seen strong growth in the Asian market. Today, the company is expanding internationally beyond its traditional U.S. market. Business goals include tapping into markets where consumers are interested in premium and wild-caught seafood—high protein and sustainably harvested products.

In February 2024, Victoria Co-operative Fisheries Limited took part in the Canada Export Café seafood mission to the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Macau. This served as a valuable gateway for entering new markets, including providing crucial local market insights and characteristics.

The mission helped identify key factors such as market size, demand, customer preferences, trends, top seafood imported products and main competitors. Victoria Co-operative Fisheries also worked with the Trade Commissioner Service to better understand mandatory regulations, requirements, tariffs and cultural barriers, helping the company adapt their approach and ensure compliance. This also played a critical role in connecting the company with potential clients and obtaining direct access to key decision makers such as distributors, retailers and food service chains.

The Export Café mission resulted in significant business growth for Victoria Co-operative Fisheries Limited. This included tangible sales through securing new customers and expanding its export market. Beyond the immediate sales, the expansion into Hong Kong enhances the company’s brand visibility in the broader Asian market, opening doors to new opportunities in neighbouring countries.