Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will visit Singapore on September 7-8 before flying to India to attend the G20 Summit on September 9-10. Meanwhile, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is at present in Jakarta, Indonesia, to attend the 43rd ASEAN Summit (September 5-7).
Trudeau’s visit is meant to “strengthen bilateral relations, particularly by promoting Canadian exports and positioning Canada as a destination of choice for investment opportunities”, according to his office.
Singapore is a very important trade partner in South-East Asia. In 2022, the island nation got USD 28 billion worth of direct investment from Canada.
Data from the Canadian Prime Minister’s office said that in 2022, Canada exported USD 1.5 billion worth of goods to Singapore, and Canada imported USD 1.3 billion worth of goods from Singapore.
Trudeau’s Singapore visit will follow his visit to Jakarta, where the ASEAN summit is taking place.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who arrived in Jakarta yesterday, posted on social media: “Have arrived in Jakarta for the 43rd @asean Summit and Related Summits. Against the uncertain global and economic outlook, strengthening ASEAN centrality and connectivity remains key to keeping our region vibrant and resilient. – LHL”
Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited Singapore in early June this year for the Ecosperity Week organised by Temasek, the sovereign global investment arm of Singapore. Before that, Widodo had come to Singapore in March for the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat.