Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has returned from a successful trade mission to Asia.
Bibeau took part in the G7 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting and held bilateral meetings with her counterparts from Japan and Singapore.
Her visit focused on deepening and diversifying agriculture trade, promoting Canadian agriculture and agri-food products, with discussions around net zero initiatives, sustainable agriculture, resilient agricultural systems, and food security.
Research shows the Indo-Pacific is likely to make up two-thirds of the middle class by 2030, and over half of global GDP by 2040.
She says the region presents tremendous economic opportunities for Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector.
"This is why expanding our partnerships and trade relationships in the Indo-Pacific region is a top priority for the Government of Canada. This mission to Japan and Singapore helped connect Canadian entrepreneurs with important players in the Indo-Pacific region and promoted both Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector, and our country's commitment and contributions to global food security."
The Minister also held bilateral meetings with key partners, including Japan's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Nomura Tetsuro.
Japan is Canada's second-largest market for beef and beef products and was the third-largest market for Canada's agriculture exports in 2022.
In Singapore, Minister Bibeau met with Koh Poh Koon, Singapore's Senior Minister of State of Sustainability and the Environment, for a bilateral meeting to discuss Singapore's '30 by 30' Initiative to build up its agri-food industry's capacity, and how Canada can contribute to Singapore's food security goals.
She also attended the Food and Hotel Asia trade show and held a round table discussion with the Canada-ASEAN Business Council to discuss opportunities and challenges for Canadian companies operating in the region.