Trade relations between UAE, Canada

Canadian Minister of International trade Sergio Marchi has expressed his country's readiness to provide expertise and advanced technology to the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE News Agency said that Marchi delivered to the president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al-Nahyan, a message from the Canadian prime minister relating to bilateral relations between the two countries and issues of mutual concern.

The agency added that Sheikh Zayed underlined during the meeting the importance of developing economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries.

According to a Canadian official source, the volume of Canadian exports to the UAE reached US $200 million in 1998.

Marchi, who was accompanied by 40 businessmen representing 32 Canadian companies, arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for a three-day visit to the UAE.

This is the Canadian business delegation's second stop on a tour during which it visited Saudi Arabia and will visit later Ramallah, the West Bank and Israel.