Minister Ng to travel to Australia for 2025’s first Team Canada Trade Mission

February 13, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, is going to Australia to lead a Team Canada Trade Mission and participate in the Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum.

From February 16 to 18, 2025, Minister Ng will lead a delegation of 220

representatives from 140 organizations from across Canada working in priority sectors, including:

• agri-food and agricultural technologies
• clean technologies and clean energy
• mining equipment technology and services
• information and communications technologies

With its favourable business climate and strong focus on the Indo-Pacific, many Canadian businesses see Australia as rich in opportunities for trade and investment and as a springboard to the dynamic and strategically significant Southeast Asian region. The trade mission builds on Canada’s longstanding efforts to diversify trade. It will showcase Canada as a trusted business partner by highlighting opportunities for collaboration and economic growth. Canadian businesses will also be able to expand their international business portfolio to Australia, which will bring more to the Canadian economy, create jobs, and develop products and services that benefit Canada.

During the trade mission, Minister Ng will take part in a variety of events and roundtables, where she will engage with local stakeholders. Topics will include increasing utilization of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, building more trade and investment bridges between Canada and Australia to create good, well-paying jobs, and supporting the economic prosperity of Indigenous people, women, and minorities. The Minister will also visit Canadian companies with operations already established in the Australian market.

While in Australia, Minister Ng will also participate in the Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum, which aims to broaden and deepen ties between Canada and Australia. The Minister will seize the opportunity to highlight Canada’s commitment to diversifying its trade relationships, growing trade, innovation, and investment with Australia.

Although Minister Ng will wrap up her time in Sydney on February 18, the trade mission will go to Brisbane and Melbourne where the Canadian delegation will continue to explore new markets and make new connections.

Quotes

“It is more important than ever for Canada to continue to diversify trade and grow opportunities for our businesses in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond to create good middle-class jobs for Canadians. I look forward to showcasing Canadian strengths and capabilities in Australia to help Canadian exporters and innovators forge new connections.”

- Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development

Quick facts

• Team Canada Trade Missions are a key initiative under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. This mission will help Canadian and Australian companies explore new markets, which supports the growth of both countries' economies.

• Since 2023, Minister Ng has led 5 Team Canada Trade Missions to 7 Indo-Pacific markets, including Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam.

• The Indo-Pacific region is Canada’s second-largest export market, after the United States; in 2023, yearly 2-way merchandise trade was valued at $257 billion.

• Since its launch in November 2022, Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy has been creating opportunities to expand trade and investment, grow good jobs and build supply chain resilience.

• In 2023, bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Australia totaled $6.4 billion. The CPTPP coming into force in 2018 has resulted in an annual 9.1% growth in bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Australia from 2018 to 2023.

• Australia is also a key destination for Canadian investment; Canadian direct investment into Australia amounted to $58.3 billion in 2023.

• Between 2019 and 2024, Australia's economy grew by 29%, with a nominal GDP reaching C$2.4 trillion in 2023. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts that Australia’s economic growth will continue to outpace other advanced economies over the next five years.