Minister of State for Foreign Trade H E Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed and Minister of International Trade of Canada H E Maninder Sidhu with other officials during the meeting, yesterday.
DOHA: Minister of State for Foreign Trade H E Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed met yesterday, with H E Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade of Canada, and the accompanying delegation, during the latter’s current visit to the country.
The meeting reviewed the trade and investment cooperation relations between the State of Qatar and Canada, and explored ways to support and further develop them, in addition to discussing a number of topics of mutual interest.
As part of efforts to strengthen the economic partnership between the two countries, the Minister of State for Foreign Trade and the Canadian Minister of International Trade jointly chaired the Qatar–Canada Trade and Investment Roundtable, with the participation of representatives from government entities and the private sector from both sides.
In his remarks during the roundtable, the Minister of State for Foreign Trade affirmed that the State of Qatar and Canada share strong and constructive relations based on mutual trust and shared values, noting the existence of promising opportunities to enhance cooperation in priority sectors and expand the scope of partnership in a manner that serves the mutual interests of both sides.
He also stressed the importance of completing negotiations on the signing of agreements on the promotion and protection of foreign investment, economic, commercial, and technical cooperation, in addition to an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, given their role in strengthening economic relations and stimulating investment between the two countries.
He further noted the agreement to establish a joint committee between the State of Qatar and Canada to serve as a permanent platform for economic dialogue, in addition to the establishment of a Qatar–Canada Joint Business Council between the chambers of commerce of both countries. This will contribute to enhancing communication between the business communities, identifying investment opportunities, and supporting the growth of trade and investment exchange.
The roundtable discussions addressed several areas of mutual interest, including identifying targeted trade priorities for building effective partnerships, reviewing key regulatory, financing, and operational challenges that can be coordinated and addressed, as well as exploring opportunities for regional cooperation and the potential for partnerships in third-country markets between Qatari and Canadian companies.
