Saudi ambassador to UK voted MENA diplomat of 2025    Saudi Awwal Bank signs SR2 billion credit facility with Saudi Binladin Group to propel development of King Fahd Sports City in Riyadh    Feast of Flavors and Prizes: LuLu Hypermarket kicks off the "World Food Festival" across Saudi Arabia    Pakistan closes airspace, suspends visaas in tit-for-tat measures against India    Saudia Group signs deal with Airbus for flyadeal's first wide-body aircraft    Saudi non-oil exports surge 14.3 percent to SR26.11bn in February    Saudi, Greek ministers co-chair inaugural meeting of Strategic Culture Committee    Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 26, Palestinian officials say    Trump's trade war olive branch met with derision and mistrust inside China    Ministry of Justice launches centralized court model to enhance judicial efficiency    Kyiv hit by deadly Russian missile and drone attack    Saudi Arabia elected chair of Asia region of World Meteorological Organization    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Super Max Verstappen scorches to pole with record lap in Jeddah    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Canada bullish on trade relations with the Kingdom
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 31 - 08 - 2013


Shams Ahsan
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Canadian Minister of International Trade Ed Fast believes that relations between is country and Saudi Arabia are not going to be clouded by their differences of opinion on some geopolitical issues.
“It is common for countries to have differences of opinion from time to time. Canada and Saudi Arabia are no different. With Saudi Arabia we have a very small number of disagreements on geopolitical issues. But we also have a common cause on many issues. The important thing is that we have so many more common interests that we can focus on to serve citizens of each of our country,” he said in an exclusive interview with Saudi Gazette.
Canadian stand on the Middle East issue, the recent visit of its Foreign Minister John Baird to East Jerusalem, its opposition to granting UN observer status to Palestine had ruffled feathers in the corridors of power in the Arab World.
But according to Fast these issues are not going to be stumbling blocks in the progress of ties with Saudi Arabia, which is Canada's largest trade partner in the Arabian Peninsula.
“This is a troubled region; Canada recognizes that. But we are also encouraged by the fact that Saudi Arabia remains a stable country with which we have a very positive trade and investment relationship,” said Fast, who also serves as the Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.
“There is a sincere desire on the part of our government to re-lift this relationship to a whole new level. We collaborate on security issues. We agree on a number of issues. We have good education relationship. So we look forward to continue doing that even in most difficult times,” said Fast, who is here on his second visit to the Kingdom in a year, and — as he says — he is “ very much looking forward to coming back.”
“I am very bullish on where the Canadian-Saudi Arabian relationship is going,” he said.
“The reason for our interest is that Saudi Arabia is one of our priority countries in this region. Our government's focus has recently shifted to fastest growing dynamic economies in the world. Saudi Arabia happens to be one of those and it also happens to be a country with which we have good relations.”
But when asked why the Joint Economic Commission (JEC), which is almost lying dormant since 2005, has been put on the back burner, Minister Fast said that both Saudi Arabia and Canada have agreed not to move forward with the JEC.
“We are just now discussing when the JEC can meet. I believe JEC can become a useful tool in highlighting and also strengthening each of our economies so as to drive economic growth.”
“When I look at our education relationship, it is among the most robust in the world when you consider a country of 22-25 million people sending 16,000 students to Canada. Wow! That tells me that there is a genuine desire to develop a very productive and trusted economic partnership between Canada and Saudi Arabia,” he said, highlighting a major area of cross-culture link.
A Canadian commissioned committee has set the goal of doubling international enrollments in 10 years, but delays in visa processing have damaged Canada's reputation as education destination.
Added to this is an ongoing strike by the Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO), which has caused a backlog in processing visas so much so that the rate of visa approvals has dropped by 15 percent, and there has been a 5 percent decline in requests for visas, according to reports.
In response, Minister Fast says that his government is trying very hard to resolve visa issues. “We understand that there is some frustration. We have recently put more money into our budget to apply reducing wait time.
“We have opened three visa centers, one each in Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah to expedite the process of getting visas. These are the centers where Saudis can go with documents. We review those to make sure that all documents are in place, everything has been filled correctly.
“We are trying to find new ways to ensure that when Saudis think of Canada they don't only think that it is a spectacular place but also it is easy to get there,” he said, informing that from October Saudi Arabian Airlines will be operating a direct Riyadh-Toronto flight to boost connectivity.
Fast said that Canada is not only offering education, but making sure that Canadian education is adapted to Saudi culture and needs like a brand. “We are trying to develop a holistic approach to international education. Saudi Arabia is already one of our best partners in this regard.”
Another major area of cooperation, according to Fast, is the healthcare sector.
“We are already a leader in providing Saudis with medical training. Some 4,000 Canadian-trained doctors are now working here.”
The minister said that he met the chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and the head of the Jeddah metro project. The meetings resulted in the identification of a number of areas of cooperation.
He said that one sector which is still in nascence is the mining sector. “We have been encouraged to promote Saudi Arabia as a great place for Canadian mining companies to seek out Saudi Arabia as a great place to invest and explore.”
“Our Saudi Arabian partners acknowledge that Canada has strong potential in infrastructure development. That is why Bombardier is studying to take on a very significant profile here on the ground.”
Bombardier Transportation has won a $383-million contract to help deliver technology for a transit system in Saudi Arabia.
“We expect many other projects where Bombardier expertise will be used when it comes to mass transit solutions. We believe that there is much scope for Bombardier to sell its products, for example the Q4 planes and CSeries jets.”
But how is he going to fight the stiff competition in various sectors in the high potential Saudi market?
“We are not trying to be all things for all people. We are going to focus on the sectors that Canada is clearly a world leader. I think Saudi Arabia has already noticed that Canada does certain things that are better than most others. That's where we are going to compete.”
About the $5.33 million Chair for Dialogue among Civilizations, which Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah created in 2010, Minister Fast said that they are waiting for the program to be operational.
“We are very pleased with this investment. Canada is known around the world as a highly pluralistic country. Many faith groups, culture groups are living in high level of peace. We want to promote Canada as the most welcoming and tolerant country. It is a country in which this kind of dialogue center will really flourish.”


Clic here to read the story from its source.