Minister of Economy meets Canada's Minister of International Trade

Montreal: Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri has met Canada's Minister of International Trade Ed Fast in Montreal before opening the first meeting of the UAE-Canadian Business Council. Present were Mohammed Saif Al Shehhi, UAE Ambassador to Canada, Arif Lalani, Canadian Ambassador to UAE, Abdullah Saif Al Nuaimi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Electricity and Water Authority, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi National Company for Energy and Co-President of the UAE-Canadian Business Council and Gordon Nixon, Co-President of the UAE-Canadian Business Council . During the meeting, the two sides discussed the economic and trade relations between the two countries, which had experienced growth over the last two years during which the UAE became the first trade partner to Canada in the Middle East. The Canadian exports to the UAE grew during the first seven of this year by 13 per cent compared to the last year. The UAE has become the major re-exportation hub to the Canadian goods in the region. Meanwhile, the UAE investments in the area of energy touched US$7.5 billion. Al Mansouri and the Canadian minister opened the first meeting of the council in Montreal. Al Mansouri said the holding of the first meeting comes amid growing economic and trade relations between the UAE and Canada. The council will discuss cooperation ties, investment, partnership in private sector in both countries in different sectors of economy, including energy, mining, financial services, IT, health, education, agriculture and food products. – Emirates News Agency, WAM