2021 Canada Arab Business Forum | Canada Arab Business Council

CANADA AND THE ARAB WORLD

Connecting Businesses, Building the Future

22-23 September, 2021

For the first time, the Canada Arab Business Council (CABC) hosted a 2-Day Business Forum that was held on an interactive virtual event platform on September 22nd & 23rd, 2021. The theme of the business conference was centered on “Canada and the Arab Countries: Economic Recovery, Resilience, and Business Opportunities”.

This unique event not only highlighted some of the Trade and Investment opportunities in Canada and the Arab world but examined the Impact of Covid-19 on Globalization, Reconstruction and Economic Development, and the Role of Digitization in Agriculture, Healthcare and Education, and Business Transformation.

DID YOU KNOW?

The MENA region is Canada’s eighth-largest trading partner, with $15.17 billion in two-way trade last year. These connections offer significant opportunities for our businesses, workers, and people – from healthcare to education, agriculture to technology.

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Program

Day One: 22 September

9:00	Introduction to Program and invitation to visit the Exhibition Hall Scott Jolliffe, Chair, Canada Arab Business Council
9:05	Introduction to Diamond Sponsor SkyPower Global Kerry Adler, CEO of SkyPower Global
9:08	Welcome remarks Sandra McCardell, Canada’s Assistant Deputy Minister for Europe, Artic, Middle East and Maghreb His Excellency Jamal Abdullah Al-Sallal, Republic of Yemen Ambassador to Canada and Dean of the Council of Arab League of Ambassadors to Canada
9:20	Welcome to Expo 2020 Dubai His Excellency Fahad Al Raqbani, UAE Ambassador to Canada Introduced by Karl Tabbakh, Regional Managing Partner for Quebec, McCarthy Tétrault
9:30	Canada at Expo 2020 Dubai Commissioner General Marie-Geneviève Mounier, Canada’s Commissioner General to Expo 2020, takes us on a virtual tour of Canada’s presence at Expo 2020 Introduced by Carmen Sylvain, Former Canadian Ambassador and Assistant Deputy Minister for Europe, Africa and the Middle East
9:45	Canadian Business Opportunities in the Arab World John Hannaford, Deputy Minister of International Trade moderates a discussion with senior dignitaries and top business officials from the Arab world: Her Excellency Suha Dawood Elias Najjar, Chairwoman of the National Investment Commission of Iraq Egypt - Eng. Yehia Zaki, Chairman of Suez Canal Economic Zone Kuwait – Her Excellency Reem Alkhaled, Kuwait Ambassador to Canada UAE - His Excellency Humaid Ben Salem, Secretary General, Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry Morocco- M. Hassan Sentissi, President of the Moroccan Association of Exporters Tunisia - Abdelbasset Ghanmi, General Manager of Invest in Tunisia Agency - FIPA
10:45	Provincial Engagement in the Arab World The Honourable Jean Charest, former Premier of Québec and Deputy Prime Minister, introduces and moderates a discussion with Canadian Premiers and senior officials about international trade and investment opportunities with the Arab world: The Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario The Hon. Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan The Hon. Doug Schweitzer, Alberta Minister for Jobs, Economy and Innovation Mairead Lavery, President and Chief Executive Officer of Export Development Canada speaks about “Building Strong Partnerships for a Sustainable Future”
11:20	Canadian Business Success Stories with the Arab World Mark Ledwell, Managing Partner, Gowling WLG, moderates a discussion with senior business and institution leaders about their successful ventures with the Arab world: Dr. Mohamed Lachemi, President, Ryerson University Rana Ghorayeb DP World/CDPQ, CEO of Otéra Capital Jody Becker, CSO and Executive Vice President, EllisDon Luis Sierra, President & CEO, NOVA Chemicals
12:20	Day 1 Closing Remarks Scott Jolliffe, Chair, Canada Arab Business Council

Program

Day Two: 23 September

9:00	Introduction to Day 2 of the Program and Invitation to visit the Exhibition Hall Cathy Seguin, Executive Director and President, Canada Arab Business Council
9:05	A Conversation about the Future of Canada Arab Economic Relations The Honourable John R. Baird P.C., Former Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ontario Minister of Energy Moderated by Jean François Seguin, Partner, Fasken
9:30	Agriculture / Agri-Tech Robert Saik, Founder & CEO of AGvisorPRO, moderates a panel discussion with senior business leaders in Canada and the Arab world about “Agriculture – A Cornerstone of Canada-Arab Trade & Investment the Future” Bill Greuel, CEO of Protein Industry Canada Tim Close, President and CEO, AGI His Excellency Majed Alqatarneh, Jordan Ambassador to Canada Hind Al Youha, Director of the Investment and Talent Attraction, UAE Ministry of Economy Invest in Canada (video “Farm-to-Form: Canada’s Strengths in Plant Proteins and Agri-Food)
10:15	AI in Healthcare Dr. Kevin Smith, President & CEO, University Health Network moderates a discussion with senior business leaders in Canada and the Arab world about “The Use of AI in Healthcare in Canada and the Arab World” Dr Michael Brudno, Professor, Vector Institute of Artificial Intelligence Sam Ifergan, President & CEO, iGan Partners Hanif Khalak, Director of Technology, G42 Healthcare Saurabh Mukhi, CTO, Think Research
11:00	Aerospace Pierre Pyun, VP Bombardier Aerospace, moderates a discussion with senior business leaders in Canada and the Arab world about “Developments in Aerospace in Canada in collaboration with the Arab World” Amer J Siddiqui, Director, UAE Clusters, Head of Asset Management, Mubadala Rahul Gangal, Partner, Roland Berger Kamel Srour, Director Sales Bombardier Invest-in-Canada (video “Why Manufacturing Companies are Investing in Canada”)
11:45	Energy / CleanTech The Hon. David Piccini, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, moderates a discussion with senior business leaders in Canada and the Arab world about “Energy and CleanTech in Canada and the Arab World” Jacob Irving, President Energy Council of Canada Ahmed Elbermbali, Managing Director Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC MENA) Alanna Hnatiw, Chair Edmonton Regional Hydrogen Hub Costantino Lanza, Co-Founder and Chief Growth and Revenue Officer, mCLoud Invest-in-Canada (video “Canada: Where Cleantech Companies Expand and Grow”)
12:30	Forum Closing Scott Jolliffe, Chair Canada Arab Business Council