Taipei, March 3 (CNA) A Canadian women-only business mission concluded a two-day public conference with its Taiwanese counterparts on Wednesday, seeking an expansion of business engagements between the two sides.

The delegation was organized by the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada), with support from the Canadian government, and headed by Sandra Pupatello, president of Canadian International Avenues, Ltd. and a former Ontario legislator.

Two sessions were held on March 2-3 at the Taipei International Convention Center, where participants in Taipei gathered to hold discussions with their Canadian counterparts virtually.

According to a press release from APF Canada, the two-day event focused on improving the health of people and the environment by showcasing innovative industry solutions in sectors in which both Canada and Taiwan have expertise.

These include biotechnology, clean technology, agricultural technology, advanced manufacturing, smart cities and digital health technology, it said.

It was also designed to provide networking opportunities for Canadian women in business with counterparts in Taiwan, APF Canada said.

Sara Wilshaw, Canada's chief trade commissioner, said during Wednesday's video conference that Taiwan's vibrant economy is one of the factors why Canadian participants have shown strong interest in doing business with Taiwan.

Taiwan's gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have increased 2.98 percent by 2020 and is one of the few economies in the world to have maintained growth, she said.

"It really remains in Canada's and Taiwan's interests to create and maintain strong bilateral and multilateral relationships to advance peace and economic prosperity," she said.

Wilshaw pointed out that the two-way trade between Canada and Taiwan reached 7.4 billion Canadian dollars in 2020 and expressed belief that there is still room for growth.

Mary Ng, Canada's minister of small business, export promotion and international trade, said the two-way trade figure represents a 1.8 percent increase compared with a year earlier.

"This growth also means that there is room for countless new opportunities for Canadian small business owners to sell their innovative, world class products, services and ideas to Taiwan's dynamic and growing market," she said on the opening day of the discussions.