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#CIAC2024
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Opening Remarks | CIAC 2023
Jeff Nankivell
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada President and CEO Jeff Nankivell presents opening remarks at the Canada-in-Asia Conference 2023 (CIAC2023) in Singapore on February 22, 2023.
Opening Remarks | CIAC 2023
Paul Davidson
Universities Canada President Paul Davidson presents opening remarks at the Canada-in-Asia Conference 2023 (CIAC2023) in Singapore on February 22, 2023.
Gala Keynote | CIAC 2023
Parag Khanna
Parag Khanna, a leading global strategy advisor, world traveller, and bestselling author, presents his keynote address, Canada’s Opportunity in the Asian Future.
Keynote Address | CIAC 2023
Donna Strickland (Part 1)
A presentation by Canadian Nobel Laureate (Physics 2018) Donna Strickland, Professor, Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of Waterloo, under the theme, 'Spotlight on Excellence in Science in Canada.'
Keynote Address | CIAC 2023
Donna Strickland (Part 2)
An armchair discussion (Part 2) between Ms. Strickland and Vivek Goel, President & Vice Chancellor, University of Waterloo.
Keynote Address | CIAC 2023
Moshe Safdie
Moshe Safdie, celebrated architect, urban planner, educator, theorist, and author, presents his keynote address, Quest for Habitation.
Plenary Session | CIAC 2023
Canadian AI Excellence
In this CIAC2023 session, Canadian experts in the field of AI and machine learning discuss Canada’s strength and advantage in AI, some current trends, and highlight areas of potential collaboration with Asia.
Plenary Session | CIAC 2023
Major Global Challenges
In this Plenary Session on Major Global Challenges (Geopolitical, Economic, Sustainability) , the panel highlights areas of global importance where Canada can be relevant to concerns in Asia and in the Asian context.
Plenary Session | CIAC 2023
What's Your Asia Strategy?
A high-level armchair discussion at the Canada-in-Asia Conference 2023 (CIAC2023) featuring senior business, government, and academic leaders.
Audio
| CIAC 2024 | Climate Solutions
Asia Pacific Conversations: Seeking Solutions to the Global Challenges of Humanity
In this special episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, Santiago Alba-Corral, Director of the International Development Research Centre’s Climate Resilient Food Systems Program, discusses the ongoing work of this Canadian institution in supporting research and researchers in developing countries to find solutions to the “global challenges of humanity.”
Santiago – a key speaker and participant at the Climate Solutions conference that was part of APF Canada’s Canada-in-Asia Conferences in Singapore in February 2024 – discusses what he sees as the two major global challenges of the current era: increased inequality and the climate crisis. With 47 active projects across 17 Asian economies, Santiago further explains the work of IDRC in the interconnected global ecosystems of food production and security.
| CIAC 2024 | Agrifood
Asia Pacific Conversations: The Business of Moving Water
In this special episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, APF Canada’s Trade and Investment Program Manager Anastasia Ufimtseva chats with Mark Nicol, an Asia-based tech-consultant and Business Development Lead (Asia Pacific, Europe the Middle East and Africa) for Calgary-based Mobiltex Data. Mobiltex develops innovative field and cloud-connected technologies to deliver operational, safety, and ESG benefits to energy, water utility, and critical infrastructure operations.
Mark – a speaker at the Agrifood conference that was part of APF Canada’s Canada-in-Asia Conferences in Singapore in February 2024 – discusses innovations in water supply management and the importance of engagement with businesses and government to bolster connections in the Asia Pacific. Originally from the U.K., where he worked for Thames Water as a water network engineer, Mark relocated to Asia in 2007 and has spent the last 16 years helping the region tackle challenges related to their water supply management.
| CIAC 2024 | Agrifood
Asia Pacific Conversations: The Global Growth and Canadian Opportunity in Plant-based Proteins
In this special episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, APF Canada’s Trade and Investment Program Manager Anastasia Ufimtseva chats with Dr. Gaurav Sharma, co-founder of Shandi Global, a Singapore-based company with Canadian connections. Shandi creates sustainable, affordable, nutritious meat alternatives – or plant-based proteins – with the potential of benefitting millions worldwide.
Dr. Sharma – a speaker at the Agri-food conference that was part of APF Canada’s Canada-in-Asia Conferences in Singapore in February – discusses the importance of food security in plant-based proteins, Canada’s connection as a ‘food basket’ brimming with the peas used in Shandi’s plant-based proteins, and the growing Asia business opportunities for other firms and entrepreneurs in this agri-food sector.
| CIAC 2024 | Climate Solutions
Asia Pacific Conversations: Opening Doors to Canada’s Greentech Opportunities in Asia
In this special episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, APF Canada’s Trade and Investment Program Manager Anastasia Ufimtseva chats with two international business leaders active in climate solutions bridging Canada and Asia. Chad Rickaby, Managing Partner at Greentech Asia (Singapore/Vancouver) and CEO of ClimateDoor (Vancouver), explains how Canadian businesses have a unique opportunity to prioritize a region looking for products and services where Canada has an advantage. Alex Hanly, CEO of Lithium Universe Limited (Australia), explains how his company is expanding its footprint in Quebec and the growing opportunities he sees for Canada’s lithium sector in the coming decade.
| CIAC 2023 | Climate Change
Climate Change, Energy Security, and Environmental Protection
In this session, Canadians at the cutting edge of climate policy, finance, and biodiversity research will share their insights on opportunities for Canada to contribute to fostering an environmentally resilient Asia.
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| CIAC 2023 | Climate Change
Clean Tech and Climate Change: A Canadian Technology Focus
In this session experts and leaders in clean technology in Canada and Asia will discuss strategies to foster collaboration with local businesses and governments on the deployment of innovation and clean technologies to address climate change and foster sustainable development.
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| CIAC 2023 | Equitable & Inclusive Societies
CanWIN: International Ecosystem to Grow Women-owned Businesses
Panellists share their reasons for joining the Canadian Women’s International Network (CanWIN) and the benefits they have personally encountered through their participation in the network. They discuss the ways that an international ecosystem like CanWIN can help women entrepreneurs expand and grow their businesses globally, with an emphasis on trade between Canada and the Indo-Pacific.
| CIAC 2023 | Equitable & Inclusive Societies
Advancing Economic Inclusion Through Innovative Business Practices
Panellists present best business practices from their diverse global experiences that improve the economic inclusion of under-served and under-represented people, such as women, multi-ethnic and -religious communities, and Indigenous peoples.
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| CIAC 2023 | Food & Agriculture
Highlighting Innovative Food and Agriculture Research at Canadian Universities
Panellists discuss partnerships, technology, research, and new policies and practices as solutions to the intertwined challenges of food security, water security, and climate change, drawing on specific examples from leading institutions in Canada.
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| CIAC 2023 | Food & Agriculture
Advancing Canada-Asia Agri-food Cooperation
Panellists discuss how a multifaceted Canadian approach that integrates trade and investment, science and technology, and education can help establish Canada as a preferred partner in the Asia-Pacific region.
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| CIAC 2023 | Health
Breakout Session: Health
A high-level panel discussion featuring experts and academics on health.
| CIAC 2023 | Health
DNA to RNA: Excellence in Canadian Genomics and RNA Therapeutics
A high-level panel discussion featuring speakers curated by McGill University on Canadian genomics and RNA therapeutics.
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| CIAC 2023 | Higher Education Partnerships
Advancing Canada-Asia Higher Education Partnerships
Panellists present best business practices from their diverse global experiences on advancing higher education partnerships between Canada and the Asia-Pacific.
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| CIAC 2023 | Higher Education Partnerships
Higher Education, Talent, and Economic Development
Panellists present best business practices from their diverse global experiences on advancing higher education, talent, and economic development.
| CIAC 2023 | Investment
The Canadian Advantage: Insights from Asian Business Leaders
​This session explores the investment journeys of leading Asian companies in Canada, focusing on opportunities and challenges that they faced in their internationalization.
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| CIAC 2023 | Trade
Conversations with Canadian Companies: What Success Looks Like When Expanding into Asia
The session further explores opportunities and challenges Canadian exporters face in the region, discussing what attracted them to the Indo-Pacific, the challenges they faced, and their strategies to overcome these challenges.
CIAC Publications
Summary Report
CIAC2023 CEO Sessions
On February 22, 2023, APF Canada and Universities Canada held four CEO roundtables on the themes of environment, investment, technology, and trade. These roundtables explored regional collaboration opportunities through informal, in-depth discussions among senior leaders from the corporate, government, and academic sectors.
This summary report identifies points raised during the discussion by individual participants or groups of participants. The discussion points included in this report, along with the pre-discussion questions raised by the participants in advance of the CEO sessions, present a variety of views of Canada-Asia engagement and are meant to stimulate further discussion.
Related Reads
Investment Monitor Report
Climate Solutions and Cleantech: Building a Greener Indo-Pacific Region Through Foreign Direct Investment
Canada’s 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy identified clean technology and renewable energy as priority sectors for future economic collaboration between Canada and Asia. Understanding major trends in the Canada-Asia renewable energy and electric vehicles (EV) investment relationship over the past 20 years will better position today’s Canadian cleantech companies for successful integration into regional supply chains across the fast-growing and dynamic economies of the Indo-Pacific region.
APF Canada’s Investment Monitor Report Climate Solutions and Cleantech: Building a Greener Indo-Pacific Region Through Foreign Direct Investment provides new insights into two-way foreign direct investment flows between Canada and Asia in the clean technology sectors of renewable energy and EVs.
Investment Monitor Report
Indonesia as an Emerging Hub for Critical Minerals and Electric Vehicles: Opportunites and Risks for Canada
Indonesia is emerging as a leader in nickel production and an electric vehicle (EV) hub for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economies. Canadian investors have been actively engaged in Indonesia’s nickel industry and will benefit from the development of the country’s EV production.
Despite the opportunities, mining investors interested in setting up shop in Indonesia should be prepared to face a shifting policy environment and social protests over mining activities, alongside general market volatility, as demonstrated by the recent slump in global lithium prices.
Our new report analyzes Canada's presence in Indonesia and highlights the #investment opportunities and risks to look out for.
Investment Monitor Report
Agriculture and Agrifood: The Expanding Role of Canadian Companies in the Indo-Pacific
In 2022, the Canadian federal government identified agriculture and agrifood as a priority sector and committed, through its Indo Pacific Strategy (IPS), C$31.8M over the next five years to help expand Canada’s agricultural trade with the region.
While expanding Canada’s agricultural trade with the Indo-Pacific could help meet the region’s food security challenges, another important dimension of Canada-Asia Pacific agricultural links is two-way investment.
Our new report analyzes both long-term and more recent investment trends at the national and sub-national levels, highlighting the biggest recipients of this investment, the top-peformers, and the key developments to look out for in Canada and the Asia Pacific.
Environmental Intelligence
The Ambitious New Global Biodiversity Framework: The View from Southeast Asia
The importance of the Global Biodiversity Framework to Southeast Asia cannot be emphasized enough. Especially as the region hosts some of the planet’s richest biodiversity, addressing nature loss is increasingly urgent and requires a multi-stakeholder approach – including sustainable infrastructure, efficient financial capacity, and urgent policy changes. Does the region have the capacity to step up to the challenge?
In the News
Business in Vancouver
Agri-food, climate-tech lead Canada-in-Asia Conference
The conference, co-hosted by Vancouver-based Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) and Universities Canada, will take place Feb. 26-29 in Singapore with a focus this year on agri-food and climate solutions.
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“We … did a survey of [last year’s] participants where we asked them multiple-choice questions about what priority they would give to different sectors as themes for future conferences, and agri-food and climate came up at the top of their results,” said Jeff Nankivell, president and CEO of APF Canada.
The first Canada-in-Asia Conference last year attracted more than 500 attendees from Canada and Asia, and exceeded its target, according to Nankivell. He hopes this year’s event will continue to build awareness of Canada among Asian businesses, especially parts of Asia that Canadians haven’t explored.
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“We are hoping to achieve three things. One is to deepen and broaden the networks that connect people … across Asia who have an interest in Canada. The second objective is to showcase the best of what Canada has to offer in the [two] sectors for an influential audience of people based in Asia,” said Nankivell.
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“And the third thing is for Canadians to come to the conference, we want to expose them to thought leaders from across Asia in the sectors.”
The Globe and Mail
With wary eye on China, Ottawa leads business toward Southeast Asia
"Jeff Nankivell, chief executive of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, said that when his team began organizing the conference, it considered Hong Kong – home to one of the region’s largest Canadian expat populations and a key gateway to China – but a combination of factors, not least COVID-19 restrictions that were only lifted early this year, made Singapore more attractive.
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“There was enthusiasm for doing it in Singapore, for doing it in Southeast Asia,” he said. For many companies, “it’s not necessarily a case of getting out of China, but maybe shifting the balance in the portfolio to have a little less weight on China.”
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Mr. Nankivell, a three-decade foreign-service officer who was most-recently Canada’s consul-general in Hong Kong, said that while Canada has always had a very strong brand across the region, “it would be very common to hear ‘you know, we love Canada, but you don’t seem to be really present here.’ ”
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Mr. Nankivell welcomed the bullishness Canadian companies have for Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific, but acknowledged “stakeholders need to be as clear-eyed” about other countries “as I think they’ve learned to become about China.”
Business in Vancouver
Canada to make splash in Asia with largest conference of its kind in Singapore
Dubbed the “Canada-in-Asia” Conference,” the event – co-hosted by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and Universities Canada – will aim to bring together 500 participants to Singapore’s Raffle City Convention Centre on Feb. 21-23, including some of the biggest names associated with Canada’s outreach in Asia over the last 30 years.
The conference is the largest public-private sector conference put on in the name of promoting Canada in the Indo-Canadian marketplace since at least 1988, said Asia Pacific Foundation President/CEO Jeff Nankivell.
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With Canada announcing its new Indo-Pacific Strategy late last year, there is more emphasis than ever of a renewed interest in diversifying to Southeast Asia and India. Singapore, Nankivell said, is located at the crossroads of both those regions and the traditional business strongholds in East Asia, allowing the maximum geographical spread of representatives to attend.
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“In my mind, the objective of this undertaking is fairly simple,” he said. “It’s to broaden and deepen networks for Canada across Asia – for universities, for the chambers of commerce. Membership should increase based on the opportunities here, and we will be checking in with groups afterwards to see if we’ve succeeded.”
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