A forum for business cooperation between Vietnam and Canada took place on July 28 in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing together 200 businesses from both sides to discuss cooperation in economics, education, technology and the environment.

The event was jointly organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Business Associations (HUBA), the Vietnam Private Business Association (VPBA) and the Southeast Asia Canada Business Council (SEACBC).

In his remarks at the forum, Senior Trade Commissioner and Consul General of Canada in Ho Chi Minh City Marcel R. Laneville said Vietnam is the main focus of Canada’s international development assistance projects.

Over the past few years, trade between the two countries has expanded rapidly and its growth rate is expected to surpass trade between Canada and other ASEAN markets this year, the trade commissioner noted.

He hoped that cooperation between the two sides’ small- and medium-sized enterprises would yield fruitful outputs.

Vietnamese Consul General in Vancouver Tran Quang Dung believed now is a good time for bilateral trade between Vietnam and Canada to reach a new level as Vietnam is part of the negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

SEACBC President Carmelita Salonga Tapia said Canadian enterprises are seeking business opportunities in solar energy, education and vocational training, healthcare, foods and green development projects./.

VNF/VNA