*SOLD OUT* CABC 41st Annual Business Forum & Gala Dinner on November 12th at Delta Hotel, Downtown Toronto *SOLD OUT*
 

2020 Canada Arab Business Forum

CANADA ARAB BUSINESS FORUM

Canada and the Arab Countries: Economic Recovery, Resilience & Business Opportunities

24-25 November, 2020

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 November 24th & 25th, 2020. 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 : 24 November

9:00Opening Plenary Session
Scott Jolliffe, Chair, Canada Arab Business Council;
Partner, Gowling WLG (Canada)
9:05The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
9:10His Excellency Jamal Al-Sallal, Dean of the Council of Arab League Ambassadors, Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen
9:15Supporting Trade and Investment in the Arab World
Moderator:
Carmen Sylvain, Member, Canada Arab Business Council
Speaker:
Mairead Lavery, CEO & President, Export Development Canada
9:45Profiling Canada to the World at Expo 2020
Introduction:
Kerry Adler, President and Chief Executive Officer, SkyPower Global
Moderator:
Her Excellency Marcy Grossman, Canadian Ambassador to the UAE
Speakers:
- His Excellency Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, UAE Ambassador to Canada
- André Frenette, Director General and Interim Commissioner General for Canada
10:15The Impact of COVID 19 on Globalization
Introduction:
Mark Ledwell, Gowling WLG Managing Partner, Toronto
Speaker:
Marc-André Blanchard, Executive Vice-President and Head of CDPQ Global (formerly Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations from 2016-20)
10:45Reconstruction Efforts and Opportunities in Lebanon and Iraq
Moderator:
Robert Peck, Member, Canada Arab Business Council
Speakers:
- Lebanon: His Excellency Fadi Ziadeh, Lebanese Ambassador to Canada
- Iraq: His Excellency Wadee Batti Hanna Albatti, Iraqi Ambassador to Canada
11:30Opportunities for Trade Diversification within the Arab World
Moderator:
Pierre Pyun, Vice President Government Affairs, Bombardier
Speakers:
- The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade
- Sara Wilshaw, Chief Trade Commissioner and Assistant Deputy Minister, International Business Development, Investment and Innovation, Trade Commissioner Service
- Ambassador Dr Kamal Hassan Ali, Secretary General for Economic Affairs for the League of Arab States
11:45Close of Day 1 and Outline of Tomorrow’s Program
Scott Jolliffe, Chair, Canada Arab Business Council;
Partner, Gowling WLG (Canada)

PROGRAM
Day Two: 25 November

9:00Welcome Remarks and Introductions
Scott Jolliffe, Chair, Canada Arab Business Council;
Partner, Gowling WLG (Canada)
9:05Canada/Arab Relations - The Next Five Years
Introduction:
Karl Tabbakh, Regional Managing Partner for Quebec, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Speaker:
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada
9:30Sustainable Agriculture & Agtech
Presenter & Moderator:
Nicole Rogers, CEO, Agriprocity
Speakers:
- Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Chief Scientist, Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
- Sébastien Leblond, Co-Founder and Global COO, RainMKRS Capital
- Dave Smardon, President & CEO, Bioenterprise Corporation
10:15Digital Economy & AI
Presenter & Moderator:
Armughan Ahmad, President & Managing Partner Digital, KPMG Canada
Speakers:
- His Excellency Ahmad Hanandeh, Jordanian Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship
- Dr Golestan Radwan, Advisor for Artificial Intelligence to the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Government of Egypt
- Mr Beligh Ben Soltane, Chairman of the Tunisia Investment Authority
11:00Virtual HealthCare and Education
Moderator:
Emmanuel Kamarianakis, Director General, Investment, Innovation, and Education
Speakers:
- Dr Kevin Smith, President and CEO, University Health Network
- John Bethel, National Healthcare Leader, EY Canada
- Leslee Thompson, CEO, Accreditation Canada
- Dr Andrew Padmos, President / CEO, Royal College International
11:45Closing Remarks and Next Steps
Scott Jolliffe, Chair, Canada Arab Business Council;
Partner, Gowling WLG (Canada)

PANEL SESSION RECORDINGS – DAY ONE

Opening Plenary Session
Supporting Trade and Investment in the Arab World
Profiling Canada to the World at the Expo 2020
Impact of COVID 19 to Globalization
Reconstruction Efforts and Opportunities in Lebanon and Iraq
Opportunities for Trade Diversification within the Arab World

PANEL SESSION RECORDINGS – DAY TWO

Sustainable Agriculture & Agtech
Digital Economy and AI
Virtual Healthcare and Education
Canada-Arab Relations in the next 5 years

For information on Speakers and Sponsors PLEASE CLICK HERE