GCC, Canada discuss strengthening ties across key sectors

GCC, Canada discuss strengthening ties across key sectors
Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen and GCC Secretary General Jasem Al-Budaiwi. GCC
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Updated 07 January 2025

GCC, Canada discuss strengthening ties across key sectors

GCC, Canada discuss strengthening ties across key sectors
  • Talks explored opportunities to deepen alliances, including in education and renewable energy
  • They also discussed pressing regional and international issues

RIYADH: The Gulf Cooperation Council and Canada have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening international development and investment ties following high-level talks between officials.

On Jan. 6, GCC Secretary General Jasem Al-Budaiwi met with Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen to discuss improving bilateral cooperation.

According to a statement from the GCC Secretariat, the talks explored opportunities to deepen alliances between the economic bloc and the North American country, including education and renewable energy.

Within the GCC, countries including  are actively deepening their relations with Canada, as demonstrated by the restoration of diplomatic ties in May 2023 after a five-year hiatus.

The statement from the GCC Secretariat added that the Jan. 6 discussions also addressed pressing regional and international issues, highlighting the significance of dialogue and strategic partnerships in fostering security and global stability.

“At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the significance of joint cooperation to enhance sustainable development efforts at both regional and global levels, contributing to greater stability in the region and beyond,” the statement said.

At the end of December, ’s Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim held talks with Canadian Ambassador Jean-Philippe Linteau at his department’s headquarters in Riyadh, according to the Saudi Press Agency.  

Economic cooperation was the focus of the meeting as relations between the nations continue to progress.


, Canada explore ways to enhance cooperation in technology, innovation 

, Canada explore ways to enhance cooperation in technology, innovation 
Updated 04 November 2025

, Canada explore ways to enhance cooperation in technology, innovation 

, Canada explore ways to enhance cooperation in technology, innovation 

RIYADH: ’s technology and innovation partnership with Canada is set to receive a boost after senior ministers met to explore new avenues of cooperation and strengthen trade ties. 

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih said in a post on X that he met with Canada’s Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation Evan Solomon to discuss ways to strengthen relations between the countries and to build partnerships that contribute to mutual economic growth, particularly in priority investment sectors. 

This comes as trade between the two nations continues to expand. In February, exported SR641 million ($170 million) to Canada, marking an 86.6 percent increase from SR344 million in February 2024, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity.

It also follows an agreement in January 2024 for both countries to re-exchange trade delegations to enhance economic relations and boost trade and investment flows. 

In a subsequent post on X, Al-Falih stated: “The dialogue took place between me and Anita Anand, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the presence of the Saudi ambassador to Canada, Amal Yahya Al-Moallimi.” 

He added: “We discussed supporting and strengthening relations between our two countries, and facilitating investment exchange, in order to achieve more fruitful cooperation in the most important sectors, which will bring success to both peoples.” 

Artificial intelligence has become a central pillar of ’s post-oil economic strategy, with the Kingdom leveraging advanced technologies to drive data-led industries and automation. 

Now at the halfway point of Vision 2030, the country is accelerating efforts to position itself as a global technology leader, balancing innovation with sustainability goals. 
Key initiatives — including the Project Transcendence program, valued at around $100 billion — aim to further establish as a global hub for AI innovation. 

Over the past five years, has made significant progress toward establishing itself as a regional artificial-intelligence hub. PwC projects that AI could contribute about $235 billion — or 12.4 percent — to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product by 2030.