February 20-21, 2023
Summary and Recommendations Report
The Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council (ABLAC) held its sixth annual meeting in Singapore from February 20-21, 2023, just as the city-state ended most of its COVID-19 restrictions. It was the first time in four years, since the 2019 annual meeting held in Hong Kong, that the Council met in person. The meeting was timely as it followed the release of Canada’s long-awaited Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) in November 2022, a foreign policy priority advocated by ABLAC Members in previous meetings.
April 7 & 8, 2021
Broad Diversification: Strengthening Canada-Asia Engagement After COVID-19
The Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council held its fifth annual meeting in a virtual setting on April 7-8, 2021. More than 150 ABLAC members and invited guests convened virtually over the two-day meeting to discuss a number of timely issues related to the overarching meeting theme. The key takeaway echoed throughout the ABLAC 2021 meeting is that engagement with Asia is as important as ever and will be crucial for Canada’s own post-COVID economic recovery.
*Note: ABLAC 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; ABLAC 2022 was also postponed due to travel restrictions.
February 27, 2019
Preparing Canadians for a Highly Connected Future with Asia
ABLAC 2019 marked the Council’s first meeting outside Canada. The meeting focused on encouraging trade agreements, ensuring an Asian component to Canada's Innovation Superclusters strategies, and increasing Canada’s Asia-competent talent pool through education.
March 2, 2018
Our third ABLAC meeting helped define the focus of previous discussions and commence action. Council members discussed topics including: Removing barriers to engagement, accelerating enhanced connectivity, and informing an Asia Strategy for the Government of Canada.
March 13, 2017
ABLAC 2017 focused on connecting innovation ecosystems, hearing Asian business leaders’ perspectives on Canada, and capitalizing on the current geopolitical situation.
February 26, 2016
Our first ABLAC meeting focused on building Canada’s brand in Asia, defining Canada’s competitive opportunities, and deepening Canada-Asia commercial networks.
