Europe Asia News

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced the launch of new initiatives worth more than $10 million to deepen cooperation with ASEAN as part of Canada's efforts to build a stronger and more resilient economy in the Indo-Pacific region.

In a post on social media, Anand said ASEAN is an important partner in Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, noting that trade between the two sides exceeded $52 billion in 2025.

Anand stated that concluding the ongoing ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement negotiations would help reduce trade barriers, improve market access, and create new opportunities for trade and investment.

She added that Canada's new initiatives will focus on strengthening biosecurity, combating financial crime, protecting children from exploitation, supporting migrant workers, and promoting women's leadership across ASEAN countries, with the aim of further enhancing the partnership between the two sides.