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

2022 Canada Arab Business Forum

CANADA ARAB BUSINESS FORUM

Update on Doing Business in the Arab World

March 17, 2022

The Canada Arab Business Council is pleased to invite you to our Business Forum, bringing together business leaders, policymakers, and senior government officials from Canada and the Arab world.

Over the past decade and a half, Canada has greatly increased its trade presence in the Arab region, leveraging on it’s Free Trade Agreements and Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements with countries in the region (Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, and Lebanon).

Business opportunities in the region are growing year-on-year and demand for Canadian products and services are increasing across all sectors.


DID YOU KNOW?

Canada’s merchandise trade with the MENA region was up 18.7% in 2021 from 2020. Canada’s top five merchandise trading partners in the MENA in 2021 were the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Algeria.

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Program
8:30 - 14:00

8:30Light Breakfast served
9:00Introduction
Scott Jolliffe, Chairperson and Cathy Seguin, President, CABC
9:05Welcome Remarks
Minister introduced by Kerry Adler, CEO SkyPower
  • Minister Al Marri, UAE Minister of the Economy
9:15Welcome Remarks
Minister introduced by Perrin Beatty, President & CEO Canada Chamber of Commerce
  • Minister Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development
9:20Short Dialogue Between Ministers
Moderated by Perrin Beatty
  • Minister Mary Ng
  • Minister Al Marri
9:30A Conversation with Minister Ng
Perrin Beatty and Minister Mary Ng
9:40Expanding the Canada-UAE Relationship
Moderator: Ruba El-Sayegh, Gowling WLG
  • Ambassador Marcy Grossman
  • His Excellency Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani
10:10Comfort Break
10:30Welcome Remarks
H.E. Humaid Ben Salem, Secretary General, UAE Chambers and Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce
10:40Taking Investment to the Next Level
Moderator: Emmanuel Kamarianakis, Director General, Investment, Innovation & Education, Global Affairs Canada
  • Musabbeh Al Kaabi, Chief Executive Officer of Mubadala’s UAE Investments
  • Jad Ellawn, Managing Director & Head of Dubai Office, Brookfield Asset Management
  • Jamal Saif al Jarwan, Secretary General, UAE International Investors, UAE Ministry of Economy
  • Karl Tabbach, Regional Managing Partner, McCarthy Tetrault and Chairman of Canadian Chamber of Commerce
11:20Taking Trade to the Next Level
Moderator: Lindsay Margenau, Senior Trade Commissioner, Global Affairs Canada
  • Kerry Adler, CEO SkyPower
  • Kamel Srour, Bombardier
  • Chafic Mourad, Sr. Regional Manager, Middle East, Export Development Canada
  • Raed Kadri, Ontario Centre for Innovation, Head, Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN)
11:55Role of Canadian Business Councils in Assisting Business Cooperation
Moderator: Jeffery Steiner, Chair Canada Saudi Business Council
  • Nour Kechacha, CUBC
  • Colin Beaton, CBC Dubai
  • Dhia Hussain, CBC Abu Dhabi
12:30Networking Reception & Luncheon

HEALTHCARE & EDUCATION PANEL
“New strategies influencing healthcare post COVID”

Grand Ballroom C, Level 2 from 14:00 to 15:45
AbstractHealthtech/healthcare development has been a huge opportunity for the past few years and it continues to grow. Guests from Canada and the MENA region will discuss their approach to navigating the impact of HealthTech in their respective countries, their institution’s vision in a post-pandemic world and their approach to creating partnerships with the vast number of stakeholders in the HealthTech ecosystem.

How has investing in the HealthTech broadly speaking driven real economic value for the country? Has it placed the country on the HealthTech top-country map? Besides capital injections, what else has supported growth in HealthTech? This session will cover macro trends in building additional HealthTech capabilities with a look towards the near future and beyond for major HealthTech categories and sub-segments alike.
14:00Welcome Remarks and Introduction
Cathy Seguin, President & Executive Director, Canada Arab Business Council
14:10Presentation
Juan M. Acuña, MD, MSc, FACOG, Assistant Dean for Research, Chair, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Director, Research and Development, SEHA, Abu Dhabi Corporate Office.
14:20Presentation
Dr. Fabrice Brunet, President & CEO, University of Montreal Health Centre (CHUM)
14:30Presentation
Katerina Tarasova, Executive Director, International Accreditation, Accreditation Canada
14:40Presentation
Dr. Taleb Almansoori, Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs, College of Medicine, UAEU University. Academic Advisor for VPS Healthcare
14:50Presentation
Dr. Marc Nantel, VP Research & External Relations, Niagara College
15:00Panel discussion
New strategies influencing healthcare post COVID
Moderated by Cathy Seguin, President & CEO, CABC
Panelists:
  • Dr. Fabrice Brunet
  • Katerina Tarasova
  • Dr. Taleb Almansoori
  • Dr. Marc Nantel
15:30Q&A
Moderated by Cathy Seguin, President & Executive Director, CABC
15:45Close
  

Agriculture Panel
“Technological Solutions to Bolster Food Security”

Ballroom section A, Level 4 from 14:00 to 15:45
AbstractFor some of the Arab world, finding solutions to food security is at the top of the national agenda. Plant-based food investing is a relatively new sector that is growing rapidly worldwide. Guests from Canada and the MENA region will discuss their approach to development of plant based proteins as well as other AgTech solutions related to food security, human and animal welfare, sustainability and climate change. How is investment in this sector providing economic returns and what is its social and environmental impact? Besides capital, what else is necessary to see this sector flourish beyond 2022? What are key opportunities ahead?
14:00Welcome Remarks and Introduction
Jean-Francois Seguin, Board Member, Canada Arab Business Council
14:05Presentation - Slides
Dr. Lina Yousef, Professor, Khalifa University, Founder ReYous, UAE
14:15Presentation - Slides
Trevor Kloeck, Senior Manager, Agriculture, Edmonton Global
14:25Presentation
Bina Khan, Advisor, DANA, UAE
14:35Presentation - Slides
Enrico Cremonese, Senior Director of Product, IVADO LABS
14:45Video Loop
Global Institute for Food Security, University of Saskatchewan
14:50Panel discussion
Technological Solutions to Bolster Food Security
Moderated by Julian Ovens, VP, Crestview Strategy
Presenters:
  • Dr. Lina Yousef
  • Trevor Kloeck
  • Bina Khan
  • Enrico Cremonese
15:15Q&A
Moderated by Julian Ovens, VP, Crestview Strategy
15:45Close

Clean Tech Panel
“Advancing Clean Energy for Tomorrow’s Future”

Ballroom section B, Level 4 (Cabaret Style) from 14:00 to 15:45
AbstractCleantech development has been on the horizon for the past few years with growing interest. Guests from Canada and the MENA region will discuss their approach to navigating the impact of CleanTech in their respective countries, their institution’s vision in a post-pandemic world and their approach to creating partnerships with CleanTech stakeholders, broadly speaking.

How has investing in the CleanTech ecosystem driven real economic value for the country? Has it placed the country on the CleanTech top-country map?
14:00Welcome Remarks and Introduction
Scott Jolliffe, Board Chair Canada Arab Business Council
14:05Presentation
Ahmed Elbermbali, Clean Energy Business Council (MENA)
14:20Presentation
Mustafa Sahin, Vice President, Edmonton Global
14:35Presentation
Jean-Dennis Carrier, Global Director, HATCH, UAE
14:50Presentation
Raed Kadri, Ontario Centre for Innovation, Head, Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN)
15:05Panel discussion
Advancing Clean Energy for Tomorrow’s Future
Moderated by Scott Jolliffe, Board Chair CABC
Presenters:
  • Ahmed Elbermbali
  • Mustafa Sahin
  • Jean-Dennis Carrier
  • Raed Kadri
15:30Q&A
Moderated by Scott Jolliffe, Board Chair CABC
15:45Close

Artifical Intelligence Panel
“Making AI work by Ecosystem Building”

Grand Ballroom D, Level 2 from 14:00 to 15:45
14:00Welcome Remarks
Jane Shanthi, Project Manager, Canada Arab Business Council
14:05Panel Introductions
Moderated by Joseph Wehbe, CEO Daimlas
14:15Panel discussion
Making AI Work by Ecosystem Building
“Aligning and operationalizing Government, Research, and Academia to achieve inclusive stakeholder goals in AI.”
Panelists:
  • Luc Sirois, Chief Quebec Innovator, Conseil de L’innovation du Québec
  • Enrico Cremonese, Senior Director of Product - IvadoLabs
  • Prof. Abdulmotaleb Elsaddik, Acting Department Chair of Computer Vision, Mohammed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence
  • David Laliberte, Executive Director, Digital 14
15:15Q&A
Moderated by Joseph Wehbe, CEO Daimlas
15:45Wrap up and Close
Jane Shanthi, Project Manager, Canada Arab Business Council

Platinum Sponsors

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Bronze Sponsors

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Supported By

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Presenters

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Canadian Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic DevelopmentTHE HONOURABLE MINISTER MARY NG
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UAE Minister of the EconomyHIS EXCELLENCY MINISTER AL MARRI
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Ambassador of Canada to United Arab EmiratesHER EXCELLENCY MARCY GROSSMAN
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Ambassador of UAE to CanadaHIS EXCELLENCY FAHAD SAEED ALRAQBANI
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Secretary General, UAE International Investors, UAE Ministry of EconomyHIS EXCELLENCY JAMAL SAIF AL JARWAN

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Secretary General, UAE Chambers and Chairman, International Chamber of CommerceHIS EXCELLENCY HUMAID BEN SALEM
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President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of CommerceTHE HONOURABLE PERRIN BEATTY

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Chair, Canada Arab Business Council Partner, Gowling WLG (Canada)Scott Jolliffe
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President and Executive Director, Canada Arab Business CouncilCATHY SEGUIN
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Director General of Investment and Innovation, Global Affairs CanadaEMMANUEL KAMARIANAKIS
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Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, SkyPower Group of CompaniesKERRY ADLER

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Counsellor (Commercial) and Senior Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada to Dubai, United Arab EmiratesLINDSAY MARGENAU

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Chairman, Canada Saudi Business CouncilJEFFREY STEINER
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RUBA EL-SAYEGHPartner, Gowling WLG

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Managing Director, Brookfield Asset ManagementJAD ELLAWN
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International Corporate Development Leader, Natural Resources Executive, Senior Government/Political Advisor, Canadian Commercial CorporationJULIAN J. OVENS

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Sales Director, BombardierKAMEL SROUR

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Sr. Regional Manager, Middle East, Export Development CanadaCHAFIC MOURAD
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Ontario Centre for Innovation, Head, Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN)RAED KADRI
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President, Canada UAE Business CouncilNOUR KECHACHA
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CBC Dubai and Northern EmiratesCOLIN BEATON

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Chairperson – Canadian Business Council, Abu Dhabi & Vice President, Sales and Marketing, M3 Marine TechnologyDHIA HUSSAIN
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Assistant Dean for Research, Chair, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE / Director, Research and Development, SEHA, Abu Dhabi Corporate OfficeJUAN M. ACUÑA, MD, MSC, FACOG.
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President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Montreal Health Center (CHUM)DR. FABRICE BRUNET, MD
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Executive Director, Accreditation CanadaKATERINA TARASOVA

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Clinical Affairs, UAE UniversityDR. TALEB ALMANSOORI
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Assistant Dean for Research, Chair, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE / Director, Research and Development, SEHA, Abu Dhabi Corporate OfficeJUAN M. ACUÑA, MD, MSC, FACOG.
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VP Research & External Relations, Niagara CollegeDR. MARC NANTEL
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Senior Director of Product – IVADOLabENRICO CREMONESE

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Senior Manager, Agriculture, Edmonton GlobalTREVOR KLOECK
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Advisor, DANA, UAEBINA KHAN
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Co-Founder, De L’ArtaDR. LINA F. YOUSEF
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Regional Managing Partner, McCarthy TetraultKARL TABAKKH

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Founder/CEO of DAIMLAS (Deliver AI, ML @ Scale)JOSEPH WEHBE
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Deputy Minister of Innovation – Ministère de l’economie et de l’innovationLUC SIROIS
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Senior Director of Product Management, IVADO labs, CanadaJACK KLEJKA
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Executive Director, Digital 14DAVID LALIBERTE

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Edmonton GlobalMUSTAFA SAHIN
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Clean Energy Business Council (MENA)AHMED ELBERMBALI