Trade minister says tour of Canada with Southeast Asian leaders marks progress

TORONTO – Federal Trade Minister Ed Fast toured leaders from Southeast Asia around parts of Canada this week, a move intended to build the foundation for a stronger trade relationship with the region.

The minister wrapped up the “road show” tour on Thursday, which he calls a step towards strengthening partnerships that would boost the existing $17 billion of trade already made between the 10 countries and Canada.

Ministers and senior officials from the Asian nations spent time meeting with Canadian executives in various sectors, including financial services, innovation, heath services and energy.

While the tour didn’t conclude with any major promise of investment, Fast says he believes it was a success in improving the relationship between Southeast Asia and Canada, one he says languished under past governments.

Southeast Asia, a region that includes countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, has a combined population of roughly 600 million people.

Fast says trade with these countries has consistently increased over the past decade, with bilateral trade growing seven per cent last year, while Canadian exports to the region has increased by 10 per cent.