Businesses in Canada Expand Presence in Web 3.0 Domain
Title: Breaking Ground in Vietnam: A New Frontier for Canadian Start-ups
Kickstart your entrepreneurial journey in Vietnam! That's what a recent delegation from Dalhousie University in Canada had in mind. Led by Professor Binod Sundararajan, the team met with the Vietnam Trade Office in Canada to explore trade opportunities.
The gathering, organized by Export Development Canada (EDC), Dalhousie University, and the Vietnam Trade Office, was part of Canada's efforts to diversify markets and supplies.
Vietnamese Trade Counselor Trần Thu Quỳnh warmly welcomed the dozen business representatives — students of Dalhousie University — to the Trade Office. These enterprising individuals weren't just seeking conventional export opportunities but also accord-oriented services and technology collaborations. The Vietnamese market, with its growing demand and potential, offers tantalizing prospects for cooperation in these sectors, Quỳnh stated.
The students left the event armed with knowledge about how to leverage free trade agreements between Vietnam and Canada to optimize supply chains, production, and export channels. They also heard about Vietnam's burgeoning status as an Asian logistics hub.
Professor Sundararajan reiterated that the delegation's focus on Vietnam stemmed from the country's rapid growth in Southeast Asia. With a robust readiness for international trade, Vietnam ranks high among emerging markets—an attractive trait for any start-up.
Additionally, Vietnam's openness to business makes it an ideal partner for many Canadian companies. Katie Haigh, in charge of international programs at Dalhousie University, highlighted this point, explaining that as members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Canada could begin searching for partners beyond the US. The Vietnamese market, with its ever-growing population and constantly expanding middle class, offers a fertile ground for Canadian products.
The student-led delegation is planning a visit to Vietnam, representing three Canadia-based companies - Tangier Lobster, Victoria Fisheries, and SimplyCast — along with the start-up Celebrate Your Curves. They will seek to establish connections with Vietnamese partners through introductions from EDC, Canada's export credit agency, which provides trade finance, export credit insurance, bonding services, and foreign market expertise.
Dalhousie University and EDC have collaborated in numerous emerging markets such as Brazil, India, China, Chile, Peru, and Argentina. With EDC's recent establishment of an office in Vietnam, their partnership is now reaching Southeast Asian countries, underscoring the increasing interest of the Canadian intellectual community and businesses in enhancing educational, business, trade, and investment connections with Vietnam.
The delegation from Dalhousie University learn about trade opportunities in Việt Nam. -VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Hải
Insights:
- Vietnam's ICT sector is rapidly expanding, presenting potential for collaborations in high-tech areas like AI, cloud computing, and data centers [5].
- The Vietnamese digital economy is booming, driven by government initiatives such as the National Digital Transformation Program (NDTP) and supportive infrastructure plans [5].
- The Dalhousie University delegation, led by Professor Binod Sundararajan, is exploring trade opportunities in Vietnam's technology sector, particularly in AI, cloud computing, and data centers.
- The Vietnam Trade Office warmly welcomed the students from Dalhousie University, who are seeking technology collaborations along with conventional export opportunities.
- Professor Sundararajan emphasized that Vietnam's rapid growth in Southeast Asia and its openness to business make it an attractive market for Canadian start-ups, including Tangier Lobster, Victoria Fisheries, SimplyCast, and Celebrate Your Curves.
- Katie Haigh, in charge of international programs at Dalhousie University, pointed out that as a member of the CPTPP, Canada could find new partners in the Vietnamese market, which offers a growing population and expanding middle class.
- The collaboration between Dalhousie University and Export Development Canada (EDC) in emerging markets, including Vietnam, aims to enhance educational, business, trade, and investment connections.
- EDC provides trade finance, export credit insurance, bonding services, and foreign market expertise, helping Canadian companies establish connections with Vietnamese partners.
- The success of Canadian businesses in Vietnam could contribute to the growth of education and self-development opportunities for students at Dalhousie University, fostering a strong bond between both nations in the fields of finance, business, and education.
