Canadian Delegation Visits Vietnam for Investment Opportunities
On June 12, 2024, a business delegation from Canada, led by Deputy Mayor of Richmond City, Chak Au, arrived in Hanoi after a long flight from Vancouver, British Columbia. The group of three Canadian entrepreneurs was visiting Vietnam to explore investment prospects in provinces such as Yen Bai, Nha Trang, and Khanh Hoa. With a free afternoon in their schedule, the delegation was invited to visit Chi Linh City, facilitated by Nguyen Quang Trung, Chief of the Vietnam State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, and businessman Nguyen Hoai Bac.
Key Discussions on Investment and Cooperation
During the visit, the Canadian delegation met with Chi Linh City’s leadership, including Secretary of the City Party Committee Hoang Quoc Thuong, to discuss potential areas of cooperation. Topics of focus included high-tech direct investment, transportation, education, and the export of skilled labor to Canada. One of the highlights was the possibility of sending Chi Linh officials to Richmond for short-term training programs, with financial backing from Canadian sources. Both cities, sharing similar population sizes and development potential, also explored the idea of becoming sister cities to promote further collaboration.
Workforce Development and Labor Export Initiatives
The delegation then visited Dai Son Corporation and the Vietnam-Canada Vocational School, where discussions were held on workforce development and labor export. The focus was on increasing skilled labor exchanges between Vietnam and Canada, aligned with Vietnam’s goal to send 500,000 skilled workers abroad by 2025. The vocational school is actively reinstating short-term training programs for students, equipping them with necessary skills and basic English to work in Canada. Although Canadian wages may not be the highest, the opportunity to apply for permanent residency after two years makes it an attractive destination for Vietnamese workers.
Positive Outcomes Despite Challenges
Though the visit lasted just over three hours, both sides achieved meaningful progress. Despite the challenges in securing investment, the leaders of Chi Linh City and the Canadian delegation emphasized the mutual benefits of the partnership, ensuring that citizens, businesses, and governments in both countries stand to gain from these efforts. The visit marks a promising step in strengthening the economic and educational ties between Vietnam and Canada.
