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.
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:
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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:
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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:
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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”
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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”
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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”
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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”
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12:30 | Forum Closing Scott Jolliffe, Chair Canada Arab Business Council |
Panel Session Recordings – Day One

First Segment
Welcome and Expo 2020 Dubai
Second Segment
Canada Business Opportunities in the Arab World
Third Segment
Provincial Engagement in the Arab World
Fourth Segment
Canadian Business Success Stories with the Arab World
Panel Session Recordings – Day 2

Fifth Segment
Introduction and A Conversation about the future of Canada Arab Economic Relations
Sixth Segment
Agriculture-Agri-Tech
Seventh Segment
AI in Healthcare
Eight Segment
Aerospace
Nineth Segment
Energy-CleanTech and Closing
SPEAKERS LINE UP









HONOURABLE JOHN BAIRD
Former Federal Ministerof Foreign Affairs and Ontario Minister of Energy
See speaker bio

SANDRA MCCARDELL
Assistant Deputy Minister for Europe, Arctic, Middle East and Maghreb
See speaker bio
HIS EXCELLENCY JAMAL AL-SALLAL
Republic of Yemen Ambassador to Canadaand Dean of the Councilof Arab League ofAmbassadors to Canada
See speaker bio








H.E. HUMAID MOHAMED BEN SALEM
Secretary General of the Federation of UAE Chamber of Commerce & Industry
See speaker bio
HER EXCELLENCY SUHA DAWOOD ELIAS NAJJAR
Chairwoman of the National Investment Commission of Iraq
See speaker bio











HIND AL YOUHA
Director of the Investment and Talent Attraction, UAE Ministry of Economy
See speaker bio











