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.
Program
8:30 - 14:00
| 8:30 | Light Breakfast served |
| 9:00 | Introduction Scott Jolliffe, Chairperson and Cathy Seguin, President, CABC |
| 9:05 | Welcome Remarks Minister introduced by Kerry Adler, CEO SkyPower
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| 9:15 | Welcome Remarks Minister introduced by Perrin Beatty, President & CEO Canada Chamber of Commerce
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| 9:20 | Short Dialogue Between Ministers Moderated by Perrin Beatty
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| 9:30 | A Conversation with Minister Ng Perrin Beatty and Minister Mary Ng |
| 9:40 | Expanding the Canada-UAE Relationship Moderator: Ruba El-Sayegh, Gowling WLG
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| 10:10 | Comfort Break |
| 10:30 | Welcome Remarks H.E. Humaid Ben Salem, Secretary General, UAE Chambers and Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce |
| 10:40 | Taking Investment to the Next Level Moderator: Emmanuel Kamarianakis, Director General, Investment, Innovation & Education, Global Affairs Canada
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| 11:20 | Taking Trade to the Next Level Moderator: Lindsay Margenau, Senior Trade Commissioner, Global Affairs Canada
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| 11:55 | Role of Canadian Business Councils in Assisting Business Cooperation Moderator: Jeffery Steiner, Chair Canada Saudi Business Council
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| 12:30 | Networking Reception & Luncheon |
HEALTHCARE & EDUCATION PANEL
“New strategies influencing healthcare post COVID”
Grand Ballroom C, Level 2 from 14:00 to 15:45
| Abstract | Healthtech/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. |
| 14:00 | Welcome Remarks and Introduction Cathy Seguin, President & Executive Director, Canada Arab Business Council |
| 14:10 | Presentation 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. |
| 14:20 | Presentation Dr. Fabrice Brunet, President & CEO, University of Montreal Health Centre (CHUM) |
| 14:30 | Presentation Katerina Tarasova, Executive Director, International Accreditation, Accreditation Canada |
| 14:40 | Presentation Dr. Taleb Almansoori, Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs, College of Medicine, UAEU University. Academic Advisor for VPS Healthcare |
| 14:50 | Presentation Dr. Marc Nantel, VP Research & External Relations, Niagara College |
| 15:00 | Panel discussion New strategies influencing healthcare post COVID Moderated by Cathy Seguin, President & CEO, CABC Panelists:
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| 15:30 | Q&A Moderated by Cathy Seguin, President & Executive Director, CABC |
| 15:45 | Close |
Agriculture Panel
“Technological Solutions to Bolster Food Security”
Ballroom section A, Level 4 from 14:00 to 15:45
| Abstract | For 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? |
| 14:00 | Welcome Remarks and Introduction Jean-Francois Seguin, Board Member, Canada Arab Business Council |
| 14:05 | Presentation - Slides Dr. Lina Yousef, Professor, Khalifa University, Founder ReYous, UAE |
| 14:15 | Presentation - Slides Trevor Kloeck, Senior Manager, Agriculture, Edmonton Global |
| 14:25 | Presentation Bina Khan, Advisor, DANA, UAE |
| 14:35 | Presentation - Slides Enrico Cremonese, Senior Director of Product, IVADO LABS |
| 14:45 | Video Loop Global Institute for Food Security, University of Saskatchewan |
| 14:50 | Panel discussion Technological Solutions to Bolster Food Security Moderated by Julian Ovens, VP, Crestview Strategy Presenters:
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| 15:15 | Q&A Moderated by Julian Ovens, VP, Crestview Strategy |
| 15:45 | Close |
Clean Tech Panel
“Advancing Clean Energy for Tomorrow’s Future”
Ballroom section B, Level 4 (Cabaret Style) from 14:00 to 15:45
| Abstract | Cleantech 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? |
| 14:00 | Welcome Remarks and Introduction Scott Jolliffe, Board Chair Canada Arab Business Council |
| 14:05 | Presentation Ahmed Elbermbali, Clean Energy Business Council (MENA) |
| 14:20 | Presentation Mustafa Sahin, Vice President, Edmonton Global |
| 14:35 | Presentation Jean-Dennis Carrier, Global Director, HATCH, UAE |
| 14:50 | Presentation Raed Kadri, Ontario Centre for Innovation, Head, Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) |
| 15:05 | Panel discussion Advancing Clean Energy for Tomorrow’s Future Moderated by Scott Jolliffe, Board Chair CABC Presenters:
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| 15:30 | Q&A Moderated by Scott Jolliffe, Board Chair CABC |
| 15:45 | Close |
Artifical Intelligence Panel
“Making AI work by Ecosystem Building”
Grand Ballroom D, Level 2 from 14:00 to 15:45
| 14:00 | Welcome Remarks Jane Shanthi, Project Manager, Canada Arab Business Council |
| 14:05 | Panel Introductions Moderated by Joseph Wehbe, CEO Daimlas |
| 14:15 | Panel discussion Making AI Work by Ecosystem Building “Aligning and operationalizing Government, Research, and Academia to achieve inclusive stakeholder goals in AI.” Panelists:
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| 15:15 | Q&A Moderated by Joseph Wehbe, CEO Daimlas |
| 15:45 | Wrap up and Close Jane Shanthi, Project Manager, Canada Arab Business Council |
Platinum Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Supported By
Presenters
Canadian Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic DevelopmentTHE HONOURABLE MINISTER MARY NG
UAE Minister of the EconomyHIS EXCELLENCY MINISTER AL MARRI
Ambassador of Canada to United Arab EmiratesHER EXCELLENCY MARCY GROSSMAN
Ambassador of UAE to CanadaHIS EXCELLENCY FAHAD SAEED ALRAQBANI
Secretary General, UAE International Investors, UAE Ministry of EconomyHIS EXCELLENCY JAMAL SAIF AL JARWAN
Secretary General, UAE Chambers and Chairman, International Chamber of CommerceHIS EXCELLENCY HUMAID BEN SALEM
President and CEO, Canadian Chamber of CommerceTHE HONOURABLE PERRIN BEATTY
Chair, Canada Arab Business Council Partner, Gowling WLG (Canada)Scott Jolliffe
President and Executive Director, Canada Arab Business CouncilCATHY SEGUIN
Director General of Investment and Innovation, Global Affairs CanadaEMMANUEL KAMARIANAKIS
Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer, SkyPower Group of CompaniesKERRY ADLER
Counsellor (Commercial) and Senior Trade Commissioner, Consulate General of Canada to Dubai, United Arab EmiratesLINDSAY MARGENAU
Chairman, Canada Saudi Business CouncilJEFFREY STEINER
RUBA EL-SAYEGHPartner, Gowling WLG
Managing Director, Brookfield Asset ManagementJAD ELLAWN
International Corporate Development Leader, Natural Resources Executive, Senior Government/Political Advisor, Canadian Commercial CorporationJULIAN J. OVENS
Sales Director, BombardierKAMEL SROUR
Sr. Regional Manager, Middle East, Export Development CanadaCHAFIC MOURAD
Ontario Centre for Innovation, Head, Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN)RAED KADRI
President, Canada UAE Business CouncilNOUR KECHACHA
CBC Dubai and Northern EmiratesCOLIN BEATON
Chairperson – Canadian Business Council, Abu Dhabi & Vice President, Sales and Marketing, M3 Marine TechnologyDHIA HUSSAIN
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.
President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Montreal Health Center (CHUM)DR. FABRICE BRUNET, MD
Executive Director, Accreditation CanadaKATERINA TARASOVA
Clinical Affairs, UAE UniversityDR. TALEB ALMANSOORI
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.
VP Research & External Relations, Niagara CollegeDR. MARC NANTEL
Senior Director of Product – IVADOLabENRICO CREMONESE
Senior Manager, Agriculture, Edmonton GlobalTREVOR KLOECK
Advisor, DANA, UAEBINA KHAN
Co-Founder, De L’ArtaDR. LINA F. YOUSEF
Regional Managing Partner, McCarthy TetraultKARL TABAKKH
Founder/CEO of DAIMLAS (Deliver AI, ML @ Scale)JOSEPH WEHBE
Deputy Minister of Innovation – Ministère de l’economie et de l’innovationLUC SIROIS
Senior Director of Product Management, IVADO labs, CanadaJACK KLEJKA
Executive Director, Digital 14DAVID LALIBERTE
Edmonton GlobalMUSTAFA SAHIN
Clean Energy Business Council (MENA)AHMED ELBERMBALI
The CABC is Canada’s only not-for-profit association focused exclusively on bringing the Canadian and Arab business communities together.
