The Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), concluded a visit to Vietnam, Indonesia and Fiji, which took place from January 6 to 16, 2026. During his trip, Secretary of State Sarai reaffirmed Canada's commitment to deepening economic partnerships, development cooperation and exploring new trade opportunities. He also highlighted Canada's priorities of inclusive economic growth, trade readiness, climate resilience, and gender equality across the Indo-Pacific region.
Secretary of State Sarai announced more than $123 million in funding for 18 development projects. Canada's support for these projects, aimed at empowering women, strengthening climate adaptation, supporting inclusive governance and fostering sustainable livelihoods, underscores its commitment to shared prosperity. Secretary of State Sarai also announced more than $4.2 million for four new initiatives to help reinforce Canada's strong, resilient and inclusive ASEAN-Canada partnership. Through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Canada Plan of Action Trust Fund (2023 to 2029), these initiatives will focus on technical assistance in the digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI) governance, agriculture and food safety and energy transition sectors.
In Vietnam, Secretary of State Sarai met with Vietnam's Prime Minister, Vice-Minister of Finance and Minister of Agriculture and Environment to deepen trade and development cooperation. In Lao Cai province, he met with the Party Secretary of the Province and visited a Canada-funded project that supports climate-resilient agriculture and the recovery of livelihoods in communities affected by typhoons, floods and landslides. He also toured Vinasamex, a social-impact business working with ethnic minority farmers to strengthen sustainable value chains, which is now exporting local spices to Canada. While in Ho Chi Minh City, he met with representatives of Canadian companies and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to identify opportunities for enhanced development-trade collaboration. He then travelled to the UNESCO World Heritage Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve to explore opportunities for sharing Canadian expertise and technology to improve ecosystem conservation management.
In Indonesia, Secretary of State Sarai met with women's groups, youths and leaders in Lombok to discuss how Canadian support is promoting women's rights, educating local leadership on gender equality, ending child marriage and eradicating female genital mutilation. He toured a Vena Energy solar facility supported by the Canadian Climate Fund for the Private Sector in Asia, underscoring Canada's role in Indonesia's clean energy transition. In Jakarta, he met with members of the Canadian private sector to discuss Canada's development-trade nexus and support Canada's trade diversification agenda. In meetings with Indonesia's Vice-Minister of National Development Planning and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, he reaffirmed Canada's support for development and economic priorities, green growth and sustainable trade, and highlighted the promising future for small and medium-sized enterprises in Indonesia and Canada under the Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
While in Jakarta, Indonesia, Secretary of State Sarai engaged with senior leaders and Permanent Representatives to ASEAN to reaffirm the importance of ASEAN as a strategic partner for mutual growth and economic resilience. He visited the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management to discuss the results of ASEAN-Canada cooperation on disaster risk resilience and preparedness.
In Fiji, Secretary of State Sarai marked the official opening of Canada's high commission in Suva, underscoring Canada's growing presence in the Pacific Island Countries. This milestone highlights the deep people-to-people ties between Canada and Fiji and opens the door for increased collaboration and cooperation across the region. While in Fiji, he met with senior officials, including the Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade (Designate), the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection and the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. Secretary of State Sarai also visited Canada-supported projects promoting women's entrepreneurship in orchid and coffee production and visited the National Park supported in part by the Kiwa Initiative, where Canada and other donors are helping restore coastal ecosystems and train local communities.
