From October 9-11, 2023, Canada again featured prominently at this year’s Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition – the largest defence trade show in the United States, featuring roughly 38,000 attendees and more than 650 exhibitors.
To kick off the first day of Canada’s presence at the exposition, there was a ribbon-cutting opening ceremony at the Canada Pavilion, led by Canada’s Deputy Ambassador to the United States, Arun Alexander, Lieutenant-General Jocelyn Paul, Commander of the Canadian Army, Bobby Kwon, President and CEO of the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), and Steven Hillier, Vice President of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI). They were joined by Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) team, Government of Canada and Provincial departments and agencies, as well as a delegation of 70 Canadian company representatives.
The Canada Pavilion showcased the innovative technologies and defence capabilities of more than 45 participating Canadian companies that eexemplify Canada’s strengths and innovation in this important sector. From Artificial Intelligence (AI) and holographics, to engineering and advanced manufacturing, Canada’s defence industry is pushing technology forward. Canada brought some of its brightest and most exciting and innovative companies to AUSA 2023, and we were excited to showcase what they bring to NATO, the National Technology and Industrial Base (NTIB), and to our continental defence partners.
Canada’s growing defence industrial base is exemplified by the trade mission organized by the Trade Commissioner Service, Canada Economic Development for Québec Regions, and Propulsion Québec. Five companies from the cleantech sector were invited to join the Canadian delegation and explore opportunities in the defence world. They received intensive pre-show coaching and had a full schedule of meetings set for them. Although none of the five initially considered themselves “defence” companies, they are now aware of and ready to pursue the many opportunities in the sector for innovative companies.
On October 10, Canada’s Ambassador to the United States, Kirsten Hillman, and the President and CEO of the Canadian Commercial Corporation, Bobby Kwon, hosted a reception for some 300 guests, including senior government representatives from the U.S. Army and other parts of the U.S. government, senior Canadian representatives, U.S. influencers and industry players and all the Canadian company representatives who came to Washington, D.C. to support AUSA 2023.
“Defense trade with Canada is primarily about our shared security, but it also brings tremendous commercial benefits to our two countries. It creates quality jobs on both sides of the border, and there is no better way to further grow these jobs than by continuing to streamline bilateral defense trade.” – Kirsten Hillman, Ambassador of Canada to the United States
Canada and the United States share an exceptional and historic defence industrial base partnership that spans more than 80 years. We continue to have the most integrated defence industrial base in the world and our defence relationship is deep and meaningful. We are each other’s closest friends, partners and allies. Our mutual objectives of continental defence and of global peace and security have led to close cooperation and integration of national security agencies and defence supply chains on various fronts.