+ A
A -
Ailyn Agonia
Doha
CANADA'S relationship with Qatar is more than just a mere connection between two governments, and our relationship is built on direct people to people connections, said Ambassador of Canada to Qatar HE Adrian Norfolk.
The ambassador hosted an official reception to celebrate Canada's National Flag Day and the 150th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation at the St Regis Hotel in Doha on Wednesday.
The event was graced by Qatar's Minister of Education and Higher Education HE Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahid al Hammadi, Ambassador and Chief of Protocol HE Ibrahim Yousif Abdulla Fakhroo, Dean of Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Eritrea HE Ali Ibrahim Ahmed, among other dignitaries. The gathering was highlighted by a cake-cutting ceremony.
On the occasion, Norfolk pointed out to the vibrant partnership and friendship between Qatar and Canada working on several bilateral and multilateral initiatives. He mentioned the cooperation of the two countries in security such as the increased number of Canadian officers stationed in Qatar and the assistance of Qatar in releasing a Canadian hostage in Afghanistan, last year.
"In 2017, I am hopeful that we will complete a formal bilateral Defence Cooperation arrangement that will further enhance our partnership. Commercially, our trade and investment relationships continue to grow you probably will not know that the first offshore oil concessions in Qatar were granted in 1949 to a Canadian company. However, as evidenced by our company partners who have generously supported this evening's event, Canada today has a range of existing collaboration in sectors as wide-ranging as infrastructure,defence and security,oil and gas,food services,legal services,architectural services,transportation,branding and marketing, and recreational products," the ambassador said.
The ambassador also mentioned plans to establish the Canadian Business Council of Qatar. He lauded the contributions of Canadians living in Qatar in different sectors of the economy including the existence of dozens of Canadian institutions across the country such as the University of Calgary Qatar and the College of the North Atlantic Qatar.
