KHALEEJ TIMES, Wednesday, Sep 9, 2020 | Muharram 21, 1442
Dubai Chamber, Canada discuss post-Covid economic recovery
Emirates:
The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the consulate general of
Canada in Dubai recently held a video conference meeting to discuss
opportunities in areas such as digitalisation, logistics, e-commerce, life
sciences and sustainable technologies.
The meeting was chaired by Hamad Buamim, president and CEO of the Dubai Chamber
of Commerce and Industry, and Jean-Philippe Linteau, consul general of Canada in
Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
The two leaders highlighted the fast-growing trade and investment relationships
between the UAE and Canada. Recent examples of this include Dnata launching
ground handling operations in Vancouver airport and DP World's $8.2 billion
co-investment platform with Canada's pension fund, Caisse de Dépôt et Placement
du Québec to expand its global port and terminal operations.
Buamim highlighted Dubai's vast competitive advantages and incentives for
foreign companies and investors, which he says have strengthened the emirate's
value proposition in recent years. He lauded the government's swift response in
addressing new challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic and accelerating
digital transformation, which he said was a key factor helping businesses
successfully navigate the new normal. He described Canada as strategic economic
partner to Dubai and stressed the importance of the emirate as a preferred trade
and investment hub leveraged by Canadian companies.
Linteau commended the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry's leadership in
establishing Dubai as a strategic global business hub, especially in the context
of post-Covid economic recovery. He also highlighted that the digitalisation is
certainly facilitating the business opportunities between the two countries as
it reduces the distance that exists geographically. He also underlined that
Dubai is already a select destination as a regional headquarters to many
Canadian businesses and, in building upon the strong bilateral economic
partnership, expects to strengthen collaboration in the lead up to Expo 2020
Dubai.
"The UAE-Canada trade and investment relationship is growing quickly, especially
in strategic areas such as energy, infrastructure and life sciences," Linteau
said. "Our two countries are committed to work together on the post-COVID
economic recovery to build a resilient global economy."
"There is tremendous potential for Canadian companies and their Dubai-based
counterparts to collaborate in innovation-focused sectors, explore new avenues
of cooperation and build long-lasting partnerships that create mutual benefits
and economic growth," Buamim added
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