SINGAPORE, Feb. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) and Universities Canada have successfully completed Canada in Asia Conference (CIAC2023) in Singapore on February 23, 2023. This unique event brought together Canada-affiliated individuals and organizations from across Asia to usher in a new phase of Canadian-Asian engagement.

Over two days at Fairmont Singapore’s Raffles City Convention Center, more than 585 attendees – including 330 from 17 Asia Pacific economies and over 400 Canadian university graduates – discussed the next phase of Canada’s engagement in Asia, a dynamic and growing region that is… currently home is 55 percent of the world’s population and are responsible for 45 percent of global consumption. A look at Asia’s growth prospects for the next decade underscores the importance and urgency for Canada to diversify and solidify its presence in a region that has become the world center of economic and geopolitical gravity.

As the Government of Canada begins to implement a new Indo-Pacific strategy with funding initiatives and long-term commitments in the region of unprecedented scale and scope, CIAC2023 arrived in Singapore at an opportune time in Canada-Asia relations. The event brought together Asia-based Canadian university alumni along with key business, government and university leaders in Canada, Singapore and across Asia on topics such as improving trade and investment, food security, clean energy transition, building equitable and inclusive societies and higher education and climate protection. Panelists included university presidents, thought leaders and industry changers from Canada and Asia, who delved deeply into the session topics and offered unique perspectives from their diverse institutional and personal backgrounds.

The first CIAC program combined keynote and interdisciplinary plenary sessions, high-level thematic panel discussions, strategic networking…