UAE-Canada business council meets for first time in Montreal

The meeting was attended by Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Ed Fast, and Sultan Bin Saaeed Al Mansouri, the UAE Minister of Economy.

DUBAI // The first meeting of the newly established UAE-Canada business council was held on Wednesday.

The gathering aimed to re-energise the business relationship between the countries.

The meeting in Montreal was attended by Sultan Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy, and Canada’s minister of international trade, Ed Fast.

“As our government continues to open new markets for our exporters, dynamic markets such as the UAE offer exciting opportunities for our world-class businesses, and the Canadian members of this council have the knowledge and experience to help us strengthen this key trade relationship,” Mr Fast said.

The establishment of the council follows a difficult period in relations between the two countries.

A dispute over landing rights for UAE airlines to Ottawa in 2010 escalated into a diplomatic crisis the following January when visa-free travel was denied to Canadians.

In May this year, Canadians were again permitted to travel to the UAE without a visa. The UAE-Canada business council was set up a month later.

“The Canada-UAE business council further demonstrates the importance Canada attaches to its partnership with the UAE, and the vital role the private sector has to play,” said Arif Lalani, Canada’s ambassador to the UAE.

“This is a significant milestone in our relationship.”

Abdulla Al Nuaimi, the director general of Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority and vice chairman of the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, is a vice chairman of the business council.