Request for Proposal (RFP): Indo-Pacific Business Survey: Perceptions of Canada’s Competitiveness and Asia’s Willingness to Engage

Request for Proposal (RFP): Indo-Pacific Business Survey: Perceptions of Canada’s Competitiveness and Asia’s Willingness to Engage Asia Regional Office – Singapore (Remote) Introduction The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) invites proposals from qualified consultants or research firms to design and implement a multi-country survey examining how stakeholders across the Indo-Pacific perceive Canada as a trade, investment, and commercial partner, and the extent to which these perceptions influence trade relationships, investment decisions, business engagement, and supplier selection. About APF Canada APF Canada is an independent, not-for-profit organization focused on strengthening ties between Canada and Asia through research, education, and convening activities. The Foundation produces a range of research outputs, including reports and policy briefs, insights and explainers, surveys, and digital media, and provides Asia competency training for Canadian organizations, students, and young professionals. Project Description and Objectives Canada has heightened its efforts to deepen engagement with the economies of the Indo-Pacific under its 2022 Indo-Pacific Strategy. While Canada is generally perceived positively in the region, there is limited structured evidence on how these perceptions translate into commercial outcomes, including trade relationships, investment decisions, and long-term partnerships. Existing regional surveys, including those conducted by ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute and the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia, provide insights into regional perceptions of major partners. However, these surveys do not assess how such perceptions influence business decision-making and commercial engagement. This project aims to address this gap by developing a survey that captures how Canada is evaluated in real-world business and trade contexts and identifies factors influencing its competitiveness relative to other partners. The project will pursue the following objectives: - Establish a baseline understanding of how Canada is perceived as a commercial and trade partner in key Indo-Pacific markets; - Examine the extent to which positive or negative perceptions of Canada translate into business engagement and commercial outcomes; - Identify factors influencing supplier and partner selection, including how Canada compares to competitors such as Australia, the United States, and Japan; - Assess key barriers and frictions affecting engagement with Canada, including structural and regulatory considerations; - Explore observed asymmetries in trade relationships, including factors shaping Canada’s role as a supplier in regional markets; - Develop a framework for tracking changes over time, including indicators that reflect improvements in Canada’s engagement and competitiveness. Project Scope Geographic Scope The survey will focus on selected Indo-Pacific markets, including: - Singapore - Vietnam - Taiwan - Japan - South Korea - Philippines - Indonesia Target Respondents The survey should focus on senior stakeholders with experience or involvement in Canadian: - Trade, procurement, or supply chain decisions; - Investment and business expansion decisions; - Regional business operations; - Policy, advisory, or research roles related to trade and economic engagement. Survey respondents must be screened for suitability. Bidders are encouraged to propose an appropriate respondent segmentation strategy. Research Approach APF Canada is seeking proposals on the most appropriate research design to achieve the stated objectives. Proponents are expected to: - Propose a research-driven survey methodology (quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods); - Recommend sample size, structure, and recruitment strategy, taking into consideration Canada’s major export industries and the potential desire to cross-tabulate survey data by sector); - Consider the use of an initial exploratory phase (e.g. expert interviews) to inform survey…