Publish Date : 04-Apr-2013
H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister met today John Baird, Foreign Minister of Canada, who is currently on a visit to the UAE.
During the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah and Baird discussed UAE-Canadian relations and the ways to enhance them to serve the mutual interests of the two countries.
The UAE and Canada are keen to build the strategic relations and cooperation in many fields such as trade, health, higher education, infrastructure, security and peaceful nuclear energy.
Some 40,000 Canadians live and work in the UAE, and over 150 Canadian companies have chosen the UAE as their base of operations for the wider Middle East and North Africa, MENA, region because of the UAE\'s well-developed infrastructure, business-friendly environment and its geographical position, allowing easy access throughout MENA, the South Asian countries, Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
The UAE-Canadian commercial relationship is one of the most important in the region. The UAE is the top export destination for Canadian goods and technology in the MENA region, and among Canada\'s top 20 export markets globally. Trade activities and investments are diversified across many sectors, including aerospace, information and communications technology, health, education, defence and security, services, oil and gas and environment.
The UAE and Canada also signed a nuclear cooperation agreement in September 2012. Later, Sheikh Abdullah and Baird paid a visit to the Canadian restaurant Tim Hortons, in Abu Dhabi Mall.
H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, later today issued the following joint statement: \"Just over a year ago, we set out an agenda between our countries to strengthen and re-energize the Canada-U.A.E. relationship. To that end, we set three goals. First, sign a nuclear cooperation agreement. Second, launch a Canada-U.A.E. business council. And third, facilitate travel requirements to increase business, tourism and joint prosperity for our citizens, by restoring the visa regime. We are pleased to announce that we have accomplished those goals, which will be formalized in the next month.
\"As strategic partners, Canada and the U.A.E. can make significant contributions toward the goal of achieving stability and prosperity across the region. We will do so by developing a strategic agenda based on the following core themes: 1. Prosperity 2. Security 3. Development \"Within the next six months, our governments commit to explore concrete goals in each of these areas. At the end of this period, senior officials will report back to the ministers of foreign affairs with recommendations on how our strategic alliance can be strengthened.
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