Dubai Chambers is looking to develop trade and investment paths with the province "British Columbia" Canadian

Vancouver, June 17, 2017 – During a series of meetings in the Canadian city of Vancouver, Dubai Chambers discussed opportunities to raise the level of trade and investment cooperation between Dubai and the Canadian province of British Columbia, and ways to support Canadian companies wishing to expand to Dubai and the region’s markets, in addition to discussing areas of joint work in innovation, entrepreneurship and attracting investments.

The Chambers delegation visiting Canada, with the participation of His Excellency Mohammed Ali Rashid Lootah, Director General of Dubai Chambers, met with a number of institutions and entities concerned with entrepreneurship and supporting business growth and economic development in Vancouver and the province of British Columbia, which included the British Columbia Business Council, the Invest Vancouver Foundation, the Greater Vancouver Area Council of Trade, the business incubator “Launch Academy,” and the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

His Excellency Mohammed Ali Rashid Lootah said that Dubai Chambers is keen to strengthen Dubai’s international partnerships with the most important international markets, especially Canada, and to consolidate the emirate’s position as a strategic gateway for international companies wishing to expand into the region’s markets. It is committed to developing cooperation with the business community in the Canadian province of British Columbia and expanding the scope of joint work to include more vital sectors, which contributes to the development of joint investment and trade ties.

The meetings included a meeting with Reh Walia, co-founder and CEO of Launch Academy, a global business incubator and accelerator based in Vancouver that supports emerging technology companies in their early stages through mentorship and training services and facilitating access to capital.

The two sides discussed ways to support Canadian and international startups to take advantage of the promising opportunities provided by Dubai, in addition to reviewing opportunities for cooperation in programs and initiatives aimed at promoting innovation and supporting entrepreneurs.

The delegation also held a meeting with Jackie Griffiths, President of Invest Vancouver, which is concerned with economic development in the Greater Vancouver region, which works to attract strategic and qualitative investments, support the growth and expansion of companies, and enhance Vancouver’s position as a gateway to global markets and a center for innovation and sustainability.

The meeting discussed opportunities for cooperation in the field of attracting investments and supporting Vancouver-based companies to expand to Dubai, in addition to discussing prospects for joint work in trade and investment promotion efforts and enabling companies to enter new markets.

The Dubai Chambers delegation also held a meeting with Ryan Petersen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the British Columbia Business Council, which represents an elite group of companies and economic institutions in the province and works to support economic growth and enhance competitiveness.

The meeting focused on exploring opportunities to enhance economic and trade relations between the Province of British Columbia and the Emirate of Dubai, and discussing prospects for cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, in addition to discussing opportunities to engage Council members wishing to expand to the UAE and Middle Eastern markets.

The Dubai Chambers delegation, during a meeting with Bridget Anderson, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Area Council of Trade, which is the largest body representing the business community in Western Canada, as it represents the interests of companies and supports their growth and competitiveness, discussed the prospects for cooperation in terms of exchanging trade missions, organizing economic delegations, and benefiting from market support services for companies from Dubai and the Greater Vancouver area. Dubai’s strategic role as a global business center and a major gateway to accessing regional and international markets was also reviewed.

During the visit, the delegation met with Jeff Zabudsky, President of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), which is one of the most prominent institutions of applied education in Canada, and specializes in practical education and training directed to the needs of the industrial sector, scientific research, and developing human competencies in the sectors of technology, engineering, business, and health care. The two sides discussed mechanisms for joint work in the fields of skills development, innovation, applied research, knowledge transfer, and partnership opportunities to support the development of talents and cadres.

The visit is part of a series of international trade missions organized by Dubai Chambers within the framework of the “Corridors of Growth” initiative, which aims to enhance the prospects for trade and investment cooperation between Dubai and promising global markets.

The initiative seeks to open new channels of high-level communication and cooperation, and develop bilateral relations between the business community in Dubai and its counterparts at the international level, which contributes to supporting strategic partnerships, launching joint projects, and enhancing sectoral integration. The initiative also keeps pace with changes in global economic environments, legislative frameworks, and investment incentives, thus enhancing the ability of Dubai companies to enter and expand into new markets with confidence and efficiency.

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