ASEAN
At the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Manila, Philippines, Prime Minister Carney announced over $15.9 million in investments to support the completion of the ASEAN-Canada free trade agreement (ACAFTA) and strengthen Canada’s partnership with ASEAN across a range of priorities, including public safety, ocean protection, nuclear security, and clean energy.
Supporting the completion of the ACAFTA
Partner: Cowater International
Funding: $5 million over three years
Countries: Eligible ASEAN Member States
This project will provide technical assistance to eligible ASEAN Member States to support the finalisation of trade negotiations of the ACAFTA through to ratification and enhance participating countries’ preparedness to take full advantage of the agreement’s provisions. Funding will support the deployment of technical experts, the provision of policy and regulatory advice, capacity-building activities, training, and institutional support.
Delivering training and assistance to law enforcement agencies from Indonesia and the Indo-Pacific region
Partner: Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC)
Funding: $4.7 million over two years, with $400,000 in in-kind contribution from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Countries: ASEAN Member States
This project will strengthen the frontline operational capacity of law enforcement agencies in the Indo-Pacific region and enhance cooperation on shared transnational threats. Through the Indonesia-based JCLEC, the RCMP will deliver over 18 course types and provide specialised training in investigation, cybercrime, and counterterrorism, helping address direct threats to Canada – including drug trafficking, cyber-enabled fraud, and trans-Pacific irregular migration. Together, Canada’s financial and in-kind contributions represent a total project value of $5.1 million.
Supporting the ASEAN Power Grid (APG)
Partner: Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Funding: $3 million over five years
Countries: ASEAN Member States
This funding extends Canada’s support to the APG, a major initiative that aims to achieve fully integrated electricity grid operations across the region by 2045. It will go toward advancing project preparation, investment readiness, and technical assistance for regional energy connectivity initiatives to link national grids, including through cross-border transmission lines and undersea cables. Canada’s support for the project will open opportunities for commercial partnerships in electricity generation and distribution for Canadian businesses.
Strengthening nuclear security by training personnel from Thailand and other ASEAN nations
Partner: World Institute for Nuclear Security
Funding: $2 million over three years
Countries: Thailand and other eligible ASEAN Member States
This project aims to strengthen global nuclear energy security with specialised training to manage potential nuclear and radiological security events in Southeast Asia. The initiative will support Thailand’s national training strategy, including through workshops on cyber security and the secure transportation of radioactive materials. This project aligns with Canada’s Nuclear Energy Strategy, which aims to make Canada a global supplier and exporter of choice by building nuclear partnerships with allies that utilise Canadian technical expertise and provide opportunities for our domestic workforce, supply chains, and technical know-how.
Supporting projects to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing through Canada’s Shared Ocean Fund
Partners: Multiple, including the Nature Conservancy, Sharks Pacific, WildAid, the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre, OceanMind, and the IMCS Network
Funding: Allocation of $1.2 million
Countries: ASEAN Member States, including the Philippines and Thailand
Provided through the Shared Ocean Fund, this funding will support Indo-Pacific partner countries in their efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and other associated crimes. It will enable stronger monitoring of fishing activities, enhanced detection of illegal practices, and greater enforcement capacity. It will also leverage advanced tools, such as eDNA analysis, to prevent illegal fishing activities, such as shark fishing and the shark fin trade. Announced in Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Shared Ocean Fund is backed by an investment of $84.3 million over five years to increase maritime cooperation among Southeast Asian countries and protect the ocean.
Philippines
While in Manila, Prime Minister Carney also announced $26 million in investments to advance the Canada-Philippines Strategic Partnership and deepen cooperation in nuclear security and safety, climate-resilient agriculture, food security and infrastructure, and community resilience.
Enhancing Nuclear Expertise and Regulation
Partner: Atomic Energy Canada Limited
Funding: $10 million over six years
Leveraging Canada’s leadership, capabilities, and experience in nuclear technology, this initiative will support capacity development in the Philippines and promote internationally recognised standards for nuclear safety, security, and governance. It will promote energy security while creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses and investors by connecting domestic industry leaders with the Philippines’ emerging nuclear energy sector.
Strengthening the livelihoods of women agri-entrepreneurs in disaster-prone rural areas
Partner: Développement international Desjardins
Funding: $9.5 million over six years
The KLIMA project will strengthen the resilience of women agro-entrepreneurs and smallholder farmers in the Philippines to climate-related disasters. Focusing on the cacao and coffee value chains, it will promote disaster-resilient agricultural practices, sustainable agroforestry and landscape management solutions, access to innovative disaster risk financing, and stronger community preparedness and response. Développement international Desjardins will also leverage Canadian expertise, academic partnerships, and private-sector engagement to foster innovation, knowledge transfer, and sustainable trade and market opportunities in the Philippines.
Supporting the Luzon Economic Corridor’s Priority Investment Readiness Programme
Partner: ADB
Funding: $4 million over four years
The Luzon Economic Corridor is a multi-country partnership to accelerate investment and create jobs across Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas, in the Philippines. With this funding, Canada will support the development of a pipeline of bankable infrastructure projects that can attract international financing, including private capital. This includes work to strengthen food logistics and supply chains, helping improve food security, reduce costs, and create opportunities for Canadian agri-tech expertise and investment.
Building coastal community capacity to counter hybrid threats in the Philippines
Partner: The Asia Foundation
Funding: $2.5 million over two years
This project will help coastal communities in the Philippines strengthen their capacity to anticipate, manage, and respond to complex maritime-related disruptions. It will enable local authorities to move from hazard-specific planning toward an integrated, systems-based approach that strengthens civilian governance, community safety, and the continuity of essential services. Project activities will include strengthening officials’ capacity to assess and plan for maritime-related risks, developing localised and inclusive contingency plans for food supply, energy access and communications, and improving coordination and information-sharing between local and national institutions.