Canadian firms explore Vietnam partnerships at Toronto trade summit

Canadian companies seeking to diversify their overseas markets are increasingly looking towards Vietnam, speakers at the Mississauga International Trade Summit 2026 in Toronto said. They identified potential partnerships but said inadequate market knowledge and business connections remained obstacles to turning interest into contracts.

Julie Nguyen, Chair of the Canada-ASEAN Initiatives at York University, pointed to healthcare, logistics, infrastructure and information technology as areas for cooperation. She also highlighted opportunities in agriculture and food processing, alongside clean energy and environmental technology.

Peter Hawkins, co-owner of MELLOHAWK Logistics, said Canadian companies often lacked current information about overseas markets, with some decisions still shaped by decades-old assumptions. He said Vietnam had long been regarded primarily as a cheap supply base, while greater familiarity with its business culture and changing demand could reveal opportunities in consultancy and other services.

Nguyen called for simpler licensing, clearer regulations, intellectual property protection and effective enforcement of contracts. She said companies also needed more information about tariffs, origin requirements and operating conditions to benefit from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

She urged more programmes connecting businesses directly and better preparation for visits to prospective markets. Nguyen also said Vietnamese professionals and businesspeople in Canada could help companies identify partners and establish trust through their knowledge of both countries’ languages, cultures and working practices. The summit was organised by the Mississauga Board of Trade.