Canada – 2009 | Canada Egypt Business Council

Objectives

This year’s agenda has mainly focused on highlighting Egypt as Canada’s most strategic partner in the region. This in addition to demonstrating to key Canadian policymakers the economic reforms that the government of Egypt is undertaking in order to further enforce foreign direct investment (FDI) and increase bilateral trade with Canada. Lastly, was putting a framework for trade negotiations on the table, whether on sector-by-sector bases or as a whole free trade bases.

The theme this year, ‘Harvesting the Trade Fruits’, symbolizes the objective of deepening business relations that is bearing fruits already within the context of the globalizing economies in order to facilitate shaping Canadian foreign trade policy towards Egypt.

Accordingly, the mission held a number of high profile conventions aiming at building a reliable partnership between Canada and Egypt, knowing the fact that Canada is one of the G8 countries and major global economies and an advanced country in many areas, notably the hi-technology, education, information technology (IT), oil and gas, industry, in addition to the massive agricultural technology.

However, despite the significance of that developed country, the bilateral Egyptian-Canadian economic and trade relations is not at the request level and still have a plenty of room for further cooperation. This is especially since Canada encompasses a large prominent Egyptian Diaspora spread in various Canadian cities including a number of university presidents and deans of colleges as well as many scientists and experts in diverse fields including nuclear engineering, medicine, and trade. Besides, knowing the fact that Canadian investments in Egypt have only reached two billion dollars and trade between the two countries reached a round figure of 600 ? million dollars.

Objectives

Reinforce the historic Canadian-Egyptian solid and reliable partnership as a vehicle of enhancing bilateral trade and mutual understanding
Update the Canadian government officials, policy makers, think tanks as well as the business community about the recent economic, administrative, as well as political changes taking place in Egypt in an attempt to explore potential sectors of cooperation
Promote Egypt’s success pillars and recent Government incentive packages to support investment in Egypt in light of the global economy changing parameters
Advance and nurture Egypt’s public sector through studying the Canadian fruitful experience in the field of Public Administration
Exchanging experience with the Canadian counterparts in the field of agriculture, scientific research particularly since Canada is a leading source of edge technologies in those fields
Follow-up on the issues discussed during previous missions as well as develop the ongoing positive exchange of culture, research and boost trade and investments

Delegation

2009 Trade Mission’s Participants List

H.E. Dr. Ahmed Darwish
Minister of State for Administrative Development.

Mr. Motaz Raslan
Chairman, Canada Egypt Business Council.

Canada Egypt Business Council Members:

Mr. Ahmed Fouad El Watan, President, Fouad El Watan Consultant Auditor and Accountant.
Mr. Ashraf El Attar, President, Egyptian German Air Treatment Co. (EGAT).
Mr. Emad Hamdy, Director of Business Development, Sharm Dream Holding Company for Touristic Investment S.A.E
Mr. Gamal El Sayed El Asy, Chairman, High Dam Cruises.
Ms. Hoda Masri, Associate Director / Representative, UBS AG Cairo Representative Office.
Mr. Hamada Abou Elenein, Chairman, Sharm Dream Holding Company for Touristic Investment S.A.E.
Ms. Lamise Aly Negm, Vice President, Citibank.
Mr. Mahfouz Nasralla, Chairman, Prima Elios for Electrical Industries.
Amb. Mahmoud El Saeed, Former Ambassador of Egypt to Canada.
Mr. Mokhtar Abou-Basha, Chairman, Maba Group
Mr. Mohamed El Saiid Aly El Goweily, Assistant Manager, National Bank of Egypt.
Mr. Nabil Walid Kamhawi, Chairman, Delta Rasmala Securities.
Mr. Nagy Albert, President, Stars Group.
Mr. Samir Samman, Managing Partner, Samman Trading and Supply Co.
Mr. Saiid El Derini, General Manager and Partner, Tam Oilfield Services.
Mr. Tarek Mohamed Salah El Din Youssef, Deputy General Manager Investment Study Department, National Bank of Egypt.

Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Representatives

• Dr. Adel El Beltagy, Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture for Research & Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation.

Ministry of State for Administrative Development

Eng. Ashraf Fawzy, Executive Director of National Management Institute (NMI), Ministry of State for Administrative Development.
Ms. Amani K. Essawi, Minister’s Assistant for International Relations, Ministry of State for Administrative Development.

Ministry of International Cooperation Representatives

Ms. Hoda Salem, Director General of Cooperation with Canada, Ministry of International Cooperation

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Representative

Mr. Sherif Ismail, First Secretary for the North American Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Media Representatives

Mr. Mohamed El Hawary, Head of Economic Section, Al Akhbar
Mr. Mohamed Radwan, Managing Editor, Al-Masry Al-Youm.
Ms. Naglaa Zikri, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Head of the Economic Section, Al Ahram Newspaper.
Mr. Mahmoud Salem, Managing Editor, Akhbar El-yom.

Canada Egypt Business Council Staff:

Ms. Rasha Kamal, Executive Director.
Ms. Mariana Malak, Office Manager to the Chairman.

The Canadian Embassy in Egypt

Mr. John Broadbent, Commercial Counselor, Canadian Embassy.

Schedule

Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation schedule

Toronto
SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 – SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

Meeting with representatives of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).

Representatives:

Ms. Rena Hubers, Food Safety and Environment Division.
Andrea Martin, Manger, Food Policy Unit.
Bobby Seeber, Senior Policy Advisor (trade Policy) Strategic Policy Branch.

Meeting with Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph.

Attending:

Rene Van Acker, Chair, Plant Agriculture Department.
Rich Moccia, Associate Vice-President, (Research), Agri-Food & Partnerships, Office of Research.

Luncheon hosted by the Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph

Site visit to Alma Aquaculture Research Station.

Overview of the station, followed by a tour of facilities and research initiatives.

Meeting with Richard D. Moccia, Professor and Director, Aquaculture Centre and Station Manager.

A special evening reception for the Egyptian Community in Toronto

Business Forum – Hosted by BMO (Bank of Montreal) Capital Markets, and the Canada-Arab Business Council.

Program at MaRS Discovery Centre.

Presentation on MaRS’s role as a catalyst to service and support partnerships leading to the commercialization of new technologies and programs to support entrepreneurs and innovation. Followed by tour of facilities.

Ottawa
SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 – OCTOBER 1, 2009

Meeting with Dr. Yvon Martel, Director-General, International Cooperation, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Special program at the Central Experimental Farm and Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre.

Presentation on the history of the Central Experimental Farm Overview of Department’s research initiatives across Canada and international research initiatives Visit to four laboratories: entymology, and to the new, state-of-the-art greenhouse for crops research followed by a tour at Arboretum.

Meeting with Ms. Liseanne Forand, Associate Deputy Director, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Meeting with President of International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Dr. David M. Malone.

Meeting with Export Development Canada (EDC).

Dinner hosted by the Egyptian Ambassador.

Montreal
OCTOBER 2

Business Roundtable

Speakers:

H.E. Dr. Ahmed Darwish, Minister of State for Administrative Development (Egypt view)
Ambassador Thomas Marr, Director Commercial Relations with the Middle East, Gulf, and Maghreb (Federal Gov. View)
Mr. Daniel Gagné, Director, Asia Pacific, Africa & Middle East, Québec
Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Trade
Scotia Bank (Name TBC), (Bank’s View)
Mr. Riadh Ben AÏssa, Executive Vice-President, SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. (Private Sector View)
Mr. Halim Gabra, Business Development, North America, Xceed

Roundtable at Montréal International

Participants:

Minister Darwish and his delegation
Mr. André Gamache, President, Montréal International
Mr. Elie Farah, Vice President, Montréal International
Mr. Alain Parenteau, Undersecretary for Public Markets at le Secrétariat du Conseil du Trésor du Québec
Mr. Marcel Proulx, General Manager, École Nationale d’Administration Publique (ENAP)
Mr. Richard Perron, Senior Advisor, Quebec Ministry of International relations

A special evening reception for the Egyptian Community in Montreal

Ministry of state for Administration Development schedule

Toronto
SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 – SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

Meeting with the OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO

Laura Pettigrew, Senior Counsel.

Meeting with the INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION OF CANADA

Gabriel Sekaly, CEO.

Meeting with York University, Dr. Mamdouh Shoukri, President.

followed by presentations and discussions with Schulich School of Business and Glendon School of Public Policy and International Affairs and followed by tour at York University Campus.

Meeting with Holland Marsh Muck Crops Research Station

Tour facilities and discuss research initiatives. Meeting with/presentations by Shawn Janse, Station Manager; Dr. Mary Ruth McDonald on the research programs; and Kevin Vander Kooi, Research Technician. Tour of Holland Marsh area, including the Drainage Pumping Station, and meeting with the Drainage Superintendant, and tour of a packing facility.

A special evening reception for the Egyptian Community in Toronto

Business Forum – Networking breakfast and presentations, hosted by BMO (Bank of Montreal) Capital Markets and the Canada-Arab Business Council.

Meeting with Bob Stark, Deputy Minister & CEO, Service Ontario.

Meeting with Minister of Government Services, Government of Ontario, Hon. Harinder Takhar.

Ottawa
SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 – OCTOBER 1, 2009

Meeting with senior officials at the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

Meeting with International Development Research Centre (IDRC),

Dr. David M. Malone, President.Meeting with Export Development Canada (EDC)

Meeting with Head Office of the Canada School of Public Service.

Ms. Ruth Dantzer, President and CEO, Ms. Colleen Rossiter, Manager, International Partnerships, and Gordon Owen, Director General.

Parliamentary Luncheon with Dr. Bernard Patry, MP Vice Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee.

Meeting with Mr. Claude Carriere, Foreign and Defense Policy Advisor, the Prime Minister’s Office.

Meeting with the Hon. Peter Miliken, Speaker of the House of Commons.

Meeting with Services Canada

Peter Simeoni, Assistant Deputy Minister for Integrity Services.
Rod Raphael, Senior Director General, Planning and Reporting.

Dinner hosted by the Egyptian Ambassador.

Montreal

Meeting with the Chairman of Klondike Star Canada Inc. for Mining.
Roundtable Discussion with the Heads of Investment and Banking sectors in Canada.

Meeting with the Acting President and Senior Vice presidents of SNC Lavalin at SNC Lavalin.

Meeting with Mr. Benoit Picard, Vice President, Business Development at Laval Technopole (scientific park), followed by a site visit of the parc and a visit of the National Institute of Scientific Research in the parc.

Meeting with Prof. Mourad El-Gamal, Associate. Vice President research and International Relations and Prof. Denis Therien, Vice President Research and International Relations at McGill University.

Meeting with Canadian Press and Media representatives.

A special evening reception for the Egyptian Community in Montreal.