Jakarta. ASEAN ambassadors in Ottawa said Southeast Asia is a major driver of global economic growth and a strategic partner for Canada during a dialogue with Diplomat Magazine Canada at the Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa on Tuesday.

The event was attended by the Indonesian Ambassador, the Philippine Ambassador, the Myanmar Ambassador, the Vietnamese Ambassador, the High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam, the High Commissioner of Malaysia, and the Thai Chargé d'Affaires ad interim.

Initiated by the High Commissioner of Malaysia and facilitated by the Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa, the dialogue served as a means to convey ASEAN's collective narrative to the Canadian public and encourage more concrete cooperation between ASEAN and Canada.

“Southeast Asia is not only a relatively stable region, but also one of the epicenters of global economic growth. With a combined GDP of $3.8 trillion and status as the world's fifth-largest economy, we offer opportunities for equal and mutually beneficial partnerships with Canada,” said Indonesian Ambassador Muhsin Syihab, citing data from ASEAN Key Figures 2024.

In addition to economic and trade issues, the discussion also touched on ASEAN's centrality in geopolitics and stability, as well as inter-community relations.

Another point emphasized by the ASEAN Heads of Mission was that Southeast Asia is a strategic region at the heart of the Indo-Pacific, where stability, connectivity, and regional cooperation architecture have a direct impact on the smooth flow of international trade, maritime security, and supply chain resilience. The senior diplomats also emphasized that ASEAN's centrality is the anchor of regional diplomacy, which maintains an inclusive dialogue space, strengthens trust, and encourages the resolution of regional issues through a peaceful and consensus-based approach.

In the context of Indonesia-Canada bilateral relations, Ambassador Muhsin emphasized the significance and strategic importance of the Indonesian-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership (ICA CEPA) and the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between Indonesia's Chamber of Commerce (Kadin) and the Business Council of Canada — which was signed on September 24, 2025, on the sidelines of President Prabowo Subianto's visit to Ottawa.

“I also hope that the business communities in both countries can translate these agreements into concrete cooperation that will have a positive impact. Some areas of cooperation that currently need to be strengthened between Indonesia and Canada are related to energy security, food security, industrial downstreaming, and the digital economy,” he concluded.

The editor-in-chief of Diplomat Magazine Canada explored the views of the Heads of Mission on the strategic dynamics of the Indo-Pacific, ASEAN–Canada cooperation priorities, and concrete opportunities for businesses and investors in the food, energy, critical minerals, digital economy, and infrastructure sectors, particularly in light of the possibility of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between ASEAN and Canada.

Concluding the interactive dialogue, senior ASEAN diplomats emphasized that the ASEAN–Canada Partnership needs to be developed in a partnership-driven and co-growth oriented manner in order to produce mutually beneficial cooperation.

The Indonesian Embassy in Ottawa facilitated this event as a form of support for ASEAN's collective diplomacy in Canada, while also expanding public communication on ASEAN's contribution to regional stability and prosperity.

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