Minister Ng concludes successful Women’s Canada Trade Mission to United Kingdom

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

March 15, 2023 - London, United Kingdom - Global Affairs Canada

Women’s participation in international trade is critical to supporting an inclusive and resilient Canadian economy.

The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, concluded her first Women’s Canada Trade Mission to the United Kingdom, where she was joined by nearly 40 Canadian women business leaders from a variety of sectors, including clean technology, information and communications technology and life sciences.

The trade mission demonstrates Canada’s commitment to securing more trade and investment opportunities for Canadian women in international markets, including for Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities, youths and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community.

In London, Minister Ng met with Kemi Badenoch, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, where they discussed working together to develop solutions to tackle climate change, promote jobs and investment and deepen the already strong ties between Canada and the United Kingdom.

In her meeting with Secretary Badenoch, Minister Ng noted the progress in the negotiations on the Canada-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement and Canada’s support for the United Kingdom joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. She also discussed the progress in advancing WTO reform and the next steps in the Canada-United Kingdom Critical Minerals Supply Chains Dialogue.

Minister Ng visited United Kingdom companies with ties and investments in Canada. Minister Ng toured an iconic London double-decker bus fuelled by Canada-based company Ballard Power’s hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology. She also visited the Marshall Group, an aerospace and defence company headquartered in Cambridge, where she met with Kathy Jenkins, CEO of the Marshall Group, to discuss support for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

In Cambridge, Minister Ng delivered a keynote speech at the Cambridge Union and led a discussion on Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and the importance of advancing inclusive trade to ensure that the benefits of trade are widely shared.

Quotes

“Canadian women business leaders and entrepreneurs are the future of trade. On this trade mission to the United Kingdom, nearly 40 Canadian innovative women-owned and led companies connected with international opportunities to reach new customers in tech. The Canada-United Kingdom relationship is longstanding and multifaceted and will deepen as we work together to open new doors for businesses in both our countries.”

- Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development

Quick facts

  • Canada is advancing women’s economic empowerment with the first-ever Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, a $2-billion investment that seeks to double the number of Canadian women-owned businesses by 2025.

  • The United Kingdom was Canada’s third-largest single-country trading partner for goods and services in 2022, with trade valued at $46.5 billion.

  • Each year, around 3,700 Canadian companies—more than 92% of which are small and medium-sized enterprises—export goods to the United Kingdom.

  • The United Kingdom is Canada’s second-largest bilateral trading partner after the United States in services and direct investment, as well as in science, technology and innovation partnerships.

  • The Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement, which came into force on April 1, 2021, remains in effect as Canada and the United Kingdom negotiate a new free trade agreement, providing continuity for Canadian and U.K. businesses alike.

  • The ongoing bilateral negotiations and the United Kingdom’s possible accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership present opportunities for Canada to further enhance its relationship with the United Kingdom.

  • Canada and the United Kingdom cooperate closely in multilateral forums, including the G7, the G20, the WTO and the Ottawa Group on WTO reform, to advance common interests and promote rules-based international trade.

Associated links

Contacts

Shanti Cosentino
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development
343-576-4365
Shanti.Cosentino@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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