Strengthening Canada's presence in the Asia-Pacific

With Canada’s opportunities in international trade markets expanding, Protein Industries Canada has made relationship-building with key regions a priority. Among the top of this list is the Asia-Pacific region—home to a population with a growing interest in and demand for diverse sources of high-quality protein.

Canada’s plant protein sector is in a unique position to meet this demand. We already have a plentiful supply of high-protein crops that can become the high-quality ingredients food manufacturers in the region are looking for. But more importantly, the innovative work of our food sector is already attracting the attention of those food manufacturers. Awareness of and interest in Canadian products throughout the Asia-Pacific region is at an all-time high.

My trip to Singapore in early November was aimed at strengthening partnerships with existing stakeholders such as Nurasa and AAFC’s Manila office, but an important additional element was the ability to make new connections. Throughout my trip, I met with investors interested in our Canadian companies, multinationals active in the region and thought leaders interested in engaging with our organization. Importantly, I took away potential partners for our ecosystem companies who are looking to expand into the region’s beverage, snack and hybrid meat categories—all of which are seeing significant growth and looking to include more Canadian ingredients.

The Asia-Pacific market holds significant growth potential for our Canadian agrifood companies. As we continue to engage with the region—whether through future visits or on programs such as the Asia-Pacific Market Entry Program with Nurasa—our ecosystem partners can remain confident that Protein Industries Canada is strengthening the relationships that will help make them successful in the region.