His Excellency Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE's Minister of Energy & Industry, who was joined by His Excellency Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Canada, visited Calgary in Canada's western Province of Alberta from July 8-11, to attend the inaugural Canada-UAE Business Council (CUBC) Symposium, the Stampede Investment Forum, and serve as the key-note speaker at the TD Securities Calgary Energy Conference.

Minister Al Mazrouei met with officials from the Canadian federal government, including Canada's Minister of International Trade Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Agriculture & Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay, Alberta's Premier Rachel Notley, the province's Minister of Energy Margaret Ellen McCuaig-Boyd, Minister of Agriculture Oneil John Carlier, as well as several other federal and provincial parliamentarians, and the Canadian business community to explore ways to improve the already strong relationship between the UAE with the Province of Alberta and Canada.

In the presence of Minister Al Mazrouei and Ambassador Al Raqbani, Alberta's Minister of Economic Development & Trade Deron Bilous announced that the Government of Alberta will be opening a representational office in the UAE (in the fall) to broaden Alberta-UAE ties.

His Excellency Suhail Al Mazrouei commended the Alberta decision and remarked, 'We welcome this step from the Alberta government to establish a representation office in the UAE, which will promote new opportunities."

Minister Bilous spoke of the establishment of this new office as a next step in UAE-Alberta bilateral relations following his impressive visit last year to the UAE, and stressed the importance of the UAE market for Alberta; referring to the UAE and Canada as 'natural partners'.

Minister Al Mazrouei emphasized to  government officials and the business sector of the importance of the Alberta and Canadian relationship for the UAE. He pointed out that the current relationship just touched 'the tip of the iceberg', and discussed key sectors which could be enhanced between the two countries from innovation, AI, food security, to green technology.

Minister Al Mazrouei also encouraged Canadians to take advantage of the $150 billion of investment opportunities available over the next five years in UAE.

Minister Al Mazrouei also highlighted the value of the UAE's unique global positioning as a gateway to the broader regions of Asia, Africa, India and the Middle East - with the UAE being just an eight hour flight from two thirds of the world's population; encouraging Alberta and Canada to take full advantage of this.

His Excellency emphasized that the true mark of successful bilateral relations is when both sides have reciprocal investment relationships in each other's country market.

Minister Al Mazrouei extended his appreciation to the Government of Alberta for their hospitality during his visit, and looked forward to future visits and cooperation from various levels of government between the two countries.

Source: www.moei.gov.ae