Forum on cooperation between Vietnam and Canada's Saskatchewan province held in Hanoi

At the “Doing business with Saskatchewan” forum, organized by the Government of Saskatchewan province (Canada) in Hanoi on February 17, discussions were focused on the province's numerous attractive advantages, thus creating opportunities for collaboration with Vietnam.

NUMEROUS COOPERATION OPPORTUNITIES

Addressing the event, Saskatchewan Minister of Trade and Export Development Warren Kaeding emphasized the vast potential for deep cooperation between Vietnam and the province of Saskatchewan, not only in agriculture and food exports but also in other areas such as energy, biotechnology, and sustainable development.

He noted that Vietnam and Saskatchewan could leverage their complementary strengths to foster long-term and sustainable collaboration.

Specifically, Saskatchewan stands out with its exceptional strengths in agriculture, mining, renewable energy, and technology. The province is also a leading global producer of essential agricultural products such as wheat, corn, and soybeans,etc

Notably, in 2024, Saskatchewan exported CAD10.1 billion (approximately $7.11 billion) to the Asian region, with exports to Vietnam reaching CAD130.6 million (about $92.6 million).

In addition to its strengths in agriculture, Saskatchewan also boasts rich mineral reserves, including potash and uranium, which play a crucial role in the global fertilizer and nuclear energy industries, etc. Mr. Kaeding noted that these strengths provide a solid foundation for expanding cooperation between Saskatchewan and Vietnam.

“We have invested significant resources and time into this dynamic Asian region because we see many potential win-win cooperation opportunities between Saskatchewan and Asian countries, including Vietnam. Particularly, Vietnam not only has much to offer us, but Saskatchewan can also bring numerous benefits to Vietnam,” Mr. Kaeding said..

STRENGTHENING COOPERATION, CONTRIBUTING TO VIETNAM - CANADA RELATIONS

Among ASEAN members, Vietnam has emerged as Canada’s largest trading partner since 2015. In 2024, bilateral trade between the two countries reached $7.24 billion, while Canada’s foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam amounted to $73.15 million.

With these impressive results, Canada continues to make strong efforts to expand and deepen its cooperation with Vietnam. As such, strengthening collaboration between Vietnam and the provinces of Canada, like Saskatchewan, will open up significant opportunities to further boost trade and connectivity between the two sides in the near future.

According to Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Steil, trade between Vietnam and Canada has seen remarkable growth, thanks to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in recent years.

Therefore, expanding cooperation between Saskatchewan and Vietnam not only reflects Canada’s long-term commitment to Vietnam but also underscores Saskatchewan’s important role in advancing the relationship between Vietnam and Canada in the coming years, according to the ambassador.

“Saskatchewan is working to raise awareness of the province’s strengths, while affirming that Canada and Saskatchewan will always be reliable and proactive partners in cooperation with Vietnam,” Ambassador Shawn Steil said.

Morover, with its strong foundation in research and development,  Saskatchewan is fully capable of sharing its expertise and transferring technology to Vietnam, according to Minister Warren Kaeding.  This not only presents an opportunity for Vietnam to enhance its research capabilities but also serves as a stepping stone for businesses in both countries to grow together in high-tech and innovative sectors, the minister said.

“Saskatchewan is a land of opportunity, innovation, and global cooperation. We look forward to strengthening our partnership with Vietnam and exploring potential areas of collaboration in trade, investment, and sustainable development in the future,” Minister Kaeding added.