2023 Annual Gala Dinner & Business Forum
May 29–30, 2023
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 its 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.
Promo video from the 2023 Annual Gala Dinner & Business Forum :
Photos from the 2023 Annual Gala Dinner & Business Forum :
6:00 pm – 9:30 pmGala reception & dinner
(Ballroom, Delta Hotel, Toronto)
| 6:00 - 7:00 pm | Reception |
| 7:00 - 10:00 pm | Dinner |
| 7:15 - 7:40 pm | Welcome remarks |
| 7:15 - 7:20 pm | Introduced by Scott Jolliffe, Past Chair of CABC, Partner at Gowling WLG) |
| 7:20 - 7:25 pm | H.E. Excellency Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, UAE Ambassador (Dinner Sponsor) |
| 7:25 - 7:40 pm | The Honourable Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport |
| 7:40 - 7:55 pm | The Honourable Victor Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade |
| 7:55 - 8:00 pm | CABC Awards Recognizing Prominent Arab Canadians |
| 7:55 - 8:00 pm | Introduced by Dr. Mohammad Al Zaibak, Past Chair of CABC, CEO of CDMC |
| 8:00 - 8:10 pm | Dr. Mohamed Lachemi, President and Vice-Chancellor of TMU/Ryerson |
| 8:10 - 8:20 pm | Dr. Reem Bahdi, Dean of Windsor Law School |
| 8:20 - 8:30 pm | Jad Shimaly, Chair and CEO of EY, Canada |
| 8:30 - 9:10 pm | 40th Anniversary and History of CABC |
| 8:30 - 8:55 pm | Scott Jolliffe, Past Chair, Partner at Gowling WLG |
| 8:55 - 9:10 pm | Sandra McCardell, Assistant Deputy Minister, Europe, Arctic, Middle East, Global Affairs Canada |
| 9:30 pm | Evening ends |
8:00 am - 4:00 pmBusiness forum
(Ballroom, Delta Hotel, Toronto)
| 8:00 - 8:45 am | Light breakfast |
| 8:45 - 9:30 am | Forum opening Introduction by Mohamad Sawwaf, Chair of CABC
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| 9:30 - 10:15 am | Trade panel Introduction by Cathy Seguin, President of CABC
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| 10:15 - 10:30 am | Coffee break |
| 10:30 - 11:15 am | Investment panel Introduction by Scott Jolliffe, Past Chair of CABC, Partner at Gowling WLG
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| 11:15 am - 12:00 pm | Sustainability panel Introduction by Cathy Seguin, President of Canadian Arab Business Council
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| 12:00 - 1:15 pm | Lunch |
| 1:15 - 2:00 PM | “Strengthening canada-arab business relationships” Interview with Sara Wilshaw, Chief Trade Commissioner and Assistant Deputy Minister at Global Affairs Canada Moderated by Ruba El-Sayegh, Vice-Chair of CABC,Partner at Gowling WLG |
| 2:15 - 4:00 pm | Breakout meetings View ambassadors View format |
| 2:15 - 4:00 pm | Arab country meetings Meet one-on-one with the Ambassadors, participate in a discussion about the opportunities that exist in their countries, have your questions answered, and meet with other companies that will be attending. Countries participating will include Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen |
| 2:15 - 4:00 pm | Meeting of CABC alumni The current and former members of the CABC will gather together to share some memories, discuss the history of the CABC and its direction going forward. We are hoping to have many of our esteemed alumni present. |
Diamond Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Table Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
Gala reception & dinnerPresenters
Business forumPresenters
Senior Manager of Investor Relations on Investment Promotion Committee at IPA Qatar (TBC)Fahad Ali Al-Kuwari
Managing Director Brookfield UAE (TBC)Jad Ellawn
Breakout MeetingsAmbassadors
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Jeffery Steiner, Chair Canada-Saudi Business Council
Majid Alharbi, KSA Minister Plenipotentiary
Martin Charron, Senior Trade Commissioner, Riyadh
Majid Alharbi, KSA Minister Plenipotentiary
Martin Charron, Senior Trade Commissioner, Riyadh
United Arab Emirates
H.E. Ambassador Al Raqbani
Nour Kechacha, President of the Canada-UAE Business Council
Nour Kechacha, President of the Canada-UAE Business Council
State of Qatar
H.E. Ambassador Dr. Khalid bin Rashid Al Mansouri
Nasser Al-Taweel , Deputy CEO, Chief Legal Officer and Board Secretary at Qatar Financial Centre
Nasser Al-Taweel , Deputy CEO, Chief Legal Officer and Board Secretary at Qatar Financial Centre
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
H.E. Ambassador Majid Alqatarneh
State of Kuwait
H.E. Ambassador Reem Alkhaled
People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria
H.E. Dr. Noureddine Bardad-Daïdj
Republic of Lebanon
H.E. Ambassador Fadi Ziadeh
Arab Republic of Egypt
Mohamed Helmy, Commercial Counsellor and Head of the Commercial Office
Republic of Iraq
H.E. Ambassador Haidar Radi Nasir
Wisam Al-Qaisi, Counsellor and Head of the Political Department
Wisam Al-Qaisi, Counsellor and Head of the Political Department
Kingdom of Morocco
H.E. Ambassador Souriya Otmani
The General Delegation of Palestine
H.E. Ambassador Mona Abuamara
(one-on-one meetings if called for)Republic of Yemen
H.E. Ambassador Jamal Abdullah Al-Sallal
Arab Country Breakout GroupsFormat for Discussion
- Meeting begins at 2:15
- Each roundtable located in a separate area in the Ballroom will have a sign at the table indicating the country
- The format is informal, with the Ambassador seated at the head of the table
Agenda:
- Ambassador introduces him/her self
- Attendees invited to introduce themselves, their business and their interest in the country
- Ambassador gives a brief introduction about doing business in the country and his/her country’s involvement in doing business in Canada
- Ambassador talks about what he sees as the opportunities for Canadian companies in doing business in the country going forward
- Attendees are invited to share their experiences in doing business in the country
- Ambassador invites attendees to ask any questions that they may have.
Meeting ends at 3:30 or 4:00 pm
The CABC is Canada’s only not-for-profit association focused exclusively on bringing the Canadian and Arab business communities together.
