Ottawa (VNA) - To further advance collaboration projects marking 30 years of Canada's development support for Vietnam, the Vietnamese Trade Office in Canada recently held a working session with Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen.

In the meeting, the Canadian official emphasised the role of the Vietnamese community in the host country in fostering bilateral cooperation, and highlighted new opportunities for Vietnamese people and businesses, as well as Canadian enterprises to participate in significant projects in Vietnam.

Canada's development assistance to Vietnam began in the 1990s. To date, with nearly 200 programmes totaling 1.35 billion USD, Canada has significantly contributed to poverty reduction, industrialisation, and modernisation efforts in Vietnam. These projects have not only improved livelihoods but also built capacities for various communities and localities, aiming for inclusive and sustainable development.

In addition to projects targeting vulnerable groups such as women and marginalised communities, and those on enhancing national governance capacity, a standout feature of Canada's official development assistance (ODA) is to assist Vietnamese people in sharing their knowledge, skills, and goods with the world. Many improvements in the production of rice varieties, peanut, pomelo, dairy cattle, pig, and other crops and livestock have significantly increased the income of rural households participating in these projects.

Over the recent years, to support Vietnam's industrialisation process and its combat against climate change, Canada has had many practical projects to support the Southeast Asian country in protecting the environment, managing pollution, and monitoring emissions. It is also a long-time partner in building industrial pollution management capacity for Vietnam, helping address the impact of climate change and move towards sustainable economic growth. Canada is also a source of experience in new technology and high-quality human resources training as well as of green finance supply, thus helping Vietnam in its green economic transition process, said Hussen.

The minister shared that in early 2024, he chose Vietnam as the first country in the Asia-Pacific to visit in his new position, showing his interest in strengthening the Canada-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership. During this visit, he announced that Canada will continue to support Vietnam with about 30 million USD for projects aimed at sustainable growth, helping Vietnam expand trade and investment, increase supply chains' resilience, and build a green and sustainable future.

ꦆ According to the minister, Canada's development assistance projects will create numerous opportunities for collaboration between businesses of both countries, particularly for technology and innovation firms operating in the fields of energy transition, renewable energy, and clean technology. These development support activities can bring about commercial cooperation opportunities and potential for businesses from both countries, he added./.