The close friendship and partnership between Canada and Qatar continue to grow, with approximately 10,000 Canadians living and working in Qatar, which is also home to a large number of Canadian companies that are contributing to different sectors of Qatar’s economy. Our bilateral trade volume has been on the upswing over the past two years, reaching $269 million in 2018 and $245 million in 2019, compared to $174 million in 2017. Qatar’s main imports include industrial machinery, passenger vehicles, aircrafts and spacecraft, ores, electric and optical instruments, dried legumes and pharmaceuticals, while Canada’s main imports include non-crude oils, ashes, chemical products and aluminum.
Moreover, Canada and Qatar enjoy strong education bonds as Newfoundland and Labrador’s College of North Atlantic Qatar (approximately 2,500 students) and the University of Calgary’s School of Nursing (approximately 500 students) operate large campuses in Doha’s Education City. There are also other collaborations between Qatari and Canadian universities.
Canadian health institutions, such as Toronto’s SickKids, also contributed generously towards developing Qatar’s health system, and our military and security co-ordination continue to grow each day, as we fight terrorism and respond to different crises in the region and beyond.
This Canadian-Qatari partnership is not only based on our governments’ shared commitment and the people-to-people connections, but also of our shared values. In September 2018, Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, announced Qatar’s pledge to provide quality education to another one million girls by 2021. This announcement came during his participation in a roundtable hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly. Tamim also announced his support for the G7 declaration in Charlevoix, which reflects the special importance that Qatar has always given to education locally and internationally, as reflected in its development assistance programs around the world.
In December 2019, Qatar was to host the 19th Doha Forum, in partnership with Chatham House, the International Crisis Group, the European Council on Foreign Relations and the Munich Security Council. Doha is considered the region’s largest open platform for global dialogue on critical challenges facing our world. Qatar will also host the World Cup in 2022. It’s the first time these games will be held in the Middle East, and since Canada will be co-hosting the tournament in 2026, we can share expertise and knowledge.
The Canadian-Qatari bilateral relationship may be further optimized in several fields, corresponding to the shared values and the long-term goals of Qatar’s National Vision 2030. My government is focused on human development and producing a diversified economy that gradually reduces its dependence on hydrocarbon industries while maintaining a balance between development needs and protection of the environment.
Qatar, whose GDP growth was expected to reach 2.7 per cent in 2019, is a leader in natural resources. As such, the government has invested billions in gas sector infrastructure in the country and abroad. Additionally, Qatar has invested in utilities, hydropower, electricity and advanced technologies — all part of the objectives in its 2030 Vision.
Further, Qatar has worked with the international community to fight corruption and build a safe environment for foreign investment. It also endorsed new legislation to improve the rights of its migrant workers. The new law marks the end of an employee sponsorship system and establishes a non-discriminatory minimum wage, which is the first for the region. It’s also a remarkable model of the collaboration and co-ordination between Qatar and the International Labour Organization.
My country has numerous academic, economic, business and leisure opportunities in which Canadians can invest. Qatar is always open to new business and investments, talented expertise and innovative ideas that aim to achieve development and sustainability for both countries.
Saoud Al-Mahmoud is the ambassador of the State of Qatar to Canada. Reach him at amb.office@qatarembassy.ca or by phone at (613) 241-4912.
