November 29 – December 3, 2009

Atlantic Canada
Situated on Canada’s East Coast, Atlantic Canada is Vietnam’s closest entry point to the North American marketplace.
Atlantic Canada is well situated for international trade and commerce with quick, reliable and cost-effective access to major markets, both in the United States and Europe. Bordered by the province of Quebec, the Atlantic Ocean and the New England states, Atlantic Canada is within a day's drive of more than half of the entire North American population. Atlantic Canada comprises four provinces: New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Atlantic Gateway
Canada’s Atlantic Gateway is a natural trade corridor to North America from Vietnam. In addition to its geographic advantage, the Atlantic Gateway is a world-class transportation infrastructure that offers modern, efficient and secure intermodal connections to key North America markets. Atlantic Canada’s transportation assets include year-round ice-free ports that are deep enough to handle the world’s largest ships.

Vietnam Trade Mission
A delegation of transportation and education officials from Atlantic Canada will be in Vietnam from November 29 to December 3 to forge new trade relationships and build bilateral trade and education links. Atlantic Canada’s transportation officials will promote the logistical and cost-competitive benefits of the Atlantic Gateway to business and government leaders in Vietnam. One of the goals is to pursue twinning opportunities between Atlantic Canadian and Vietnamese ports.
Atlantic Canada’s education officials will promote their universities to education and government leaders in Vietnam. One of their goals is to increase Vietnamese student enrolment at Atlantic Canada’s post-secondary schools.

Vietnam Trade Mission Delegation
The Premier of Nova Scotia, Darrell Dexter, will be part of the delegation to Vietnam. Mr. Dexter will be joined by some of the top transportation and education officials in Atlantic Canada. Delegates include representatives of the ports of Halifax, Nova Scotia and Dalhousie, New Brunswick, the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Nova Scotia Business Inc., the Atlantic Gateway Advisory Council, St. Mary’s University, the University of Prince Edward Island, Dalhousie University, EduNova, Transport Canada and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Canada-Vietnam Trade Relationship
Trade between Canada and Vietnam surpassed an all-time high of C$1.3 billion in 2008, up 21.3% from 2007, and five times greater than the 1997 volume. Vietnam’s main exports to Canada include footwear, textiles, garments, seafood, handicraft and leather goods. Agriculture, food and beverages continue to be Canada’s leading exports to Vietnam, representing approximately 29% of total value in 2008.

Canada-Vietnam Bilateral Ties
Canadian investments in Vietnam reached $4.2 billion in the first half of 2008, making Canada the fifth largest investor in Vietnam. Canada and Vietnam share membership in multiple multilateral forums including the Francophonie and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) where Vietnam is Canada’s Coordinating Country for 2006-09, further strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.