Canada-Qatar forum unveils initiatives for deeper ties; focus on youth, SMEs
Beyond solidifying Qatar as a key investment gateway, CQBF executive director Yasser Dhouib told Gulf Times that plans are on the anvil for an event slated in September in Canada, specifically targeting the healthcare industry and healthcare technology, among others, and to promote Qatar and its various investment offerings to Canadian companies.
'CQBF also expressed a strong desire for reciprocal visits between Canadian and Qatari delegations, exploring the opportunities either in Quebec, Ontario, or on the west coast of Canada,' Dhouib explained.
According to Dhouib, a cornerstone of CQBF's strategy is 'a pioneering knowledge exchange initiative for the establishment of a Qatari-Canadian internship programme. This programme envisions Canadian students staying in Qatar for six months, allowing them to explore the country and learn about Qatar's culture and heritage, as well as its business philosophy.
'Once they are back in Canada, the objective is to promote further awareness about Qatar and to create a positive long-term impact on the internship participants. We are talking about a new generation and prospective leaders. We want to create leaders by giving them the opportunities to know in more tangible ways the culture, the business community, the business atmosphere of Qatar,' Dhouib pointed out.
He confirmed the programme would be reciprocal, with young Qatari leaders heading to Canada for similar internships, emphasising: 'If you want really to create strong bonds, it starts with education.'
Dhouib noted that CQBF's approach is 'multifaceted', extending beyond large corporations to embrace SMEs. He clarified that CQBF aims to be an inclusive 'forum... bringing on people with different horizons, experiences', rather than 'a select club'.
Recognising Canada's federal structure, Dhouib highlighted the importance of engaging provincial governments, which he described as 'very effective, very powerful' in economic and educational matters.
© Gulf Times Newspaper 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tahawul Tech
5 hours ago
- Tahawul Tech
SANS Institute returns with fourth edition of SANS Cyber Leaders Forum to Riyadh
The fifth edition of SANS Riyadh Cyber Leaders delivers intensive training for cybersecurity managers and SOC leaders. The SANS Institute is set to return to the Kingdom's capital with the fourth edition of its Cyber Leaders Forum from August 24 to 28, 2025. Taking place at the Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, the event will offer five days of high-impact leadership and technical training, tailored for security managers and SOC leaders facing today's complex cyber threats. This year's forum builds on Saudi Arabia's rising status as a global cybersecurity frontrunner. In 2025, the Kingdom secured the top position in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook's cybersecurity indicator, a milestone achieved through concerted national efforts led by the National Cybersecurity Authority and the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE). Their strategic initiatives have not only boosted local cyber resilience but have also reinforced international partnerships and technology localisation. 'Saudi Arabia's position as a global cybersecurity leader is no coincidence, it's the result of strategic vision and long-term commitment,' said Ned Baltagi, Managing Director, Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at SANS Institute. 'At SANS, we're proud to support this progress by bringing world-class training to Riyadh through our Cyber Leaders event, helping to develop the next generation of cybersecurity leadership in the Kingdom.' Leadership-focused courses for strategic security professionals The Riyadh training event will feature specialised courses aligned with the needs of InfoSec leaders. These include: LDR512: Security Leadership Essentials for Managers , aimed at helping professionals strengthen strategic planning and leadership abilities. LDR514: Security Strategic Planning, Policy, and Leadership™ , offering tools for building comprehensive cybersecurity plans and policies. LDR551: Building and Leading Security Operations Centers™ , focused on SOC development and aligning operations to enterprise risk profiles. Each course incorporates 17 hands-on labs and Cyber42 leadership simulations, ensuring participants gain both conceptual knowledge and practical skills. Attendees can join either in person or via live online sessions. Community Night Talk: Focus on crypto mining threats The Cyber Leaders Community Night Talk will take place on August 25 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Delivered by expert instructor Jan D'Herdt, the session will explore the detection of unauthorised cryptocurrency mining in corporate environments—an emerging risk with serious implications for enterprise networks. This open-access session offers a practical platform for cybersecurity professionals in Saudi Arabia and beyond to enhance their threat detection capabilities. Online attendance is also available through SANS Accounts.
Khaleej Times
6 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Air Canada union says flight attendants will continue strike; airline delays restart plan
Air Canada flight attendants said on Sunday they would remain on strike despite a government-backed labor board's order to return to work by 2pm ET (6pm GMT), calling the order unconstitutional. The Canadian Union of Public Employees said in a statement that members would remain on strike and invited Air Canada back to the table to "negotiate a fair deal." The airline said it would delay plans to restart operations from Sunday until Monday evening. On Saturday, the Canadian government under Prime Minister Mark Carney moved to end a strike by more than 10,000 flight attendants at the country's largest carrier by asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order binding arbitration. The CIRB issued the order, which Air Canada had sought, and unionised flight attendants opposed. The Canada Labour Code gives the government the power to ask the CIRB to impose binding arbitration in the interest of protecting the economy. The government, under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, intervened last year to head off rail and dock strikes that threatened to cripple the economy, but it is unusual for a union to defy a CIRB order. It was not immediately clear what options the government has if the union continues its strike. Air Canada had said it planned to resume flights on Sunday evening, following the expected end of the strike that caused the suspension of around 700 daily flights on Saturday, stranding more than 100,000 passengers. Air Canada flight attendants walked off the job on Saturday for the first time since 1985, after months of negotiations over a new contract. The union called a decision by the CIRB chair Maryse Tremblay to not recuse herself from handling the case a "staggering conflict of interest," since she had worked as a senior counsel for Air Canada in the past. According to Tremblay's LinkedIn profile, she served as Air Canada's counsel from 1998 to 2004. Air Canada, the CIRB, and a Canadian government spokesperson were not immediately available for comment. Other unions joined the flight attendants' picket line in solidarity in Toronto on Sunday. "They are in support here today because they are seeing our rights being eroded," said Natasha Stea, an Air Canada flight attendant and local union president. Air Canada had started cancelling flights on Thursday in anticipation of the stoppage. Travellers at Toronto Pearson International Airport said they were confused about whether their flights would resume or Air Canada would make alternative arrangements. "We are kind of left to figure it out for ourselves and fend for ourselves with no recourse or options provided by Air Canada at this time," said Elizabeth Fourney of Vancouver. The most contentious issue has been the union's demand for compensation for time spent on the ground between flights and when helping passengers board. Attendants are largely paid only when their plane is moving. CUPE had pushed for a negotiated solution, saying binding arbitration would take pressure off the airline. Air Canada said on Sunday that the CIRB had ordered the terms of the collective agreement between the union and the airline that expired on March 31 be extended until a new agreement can be reached.
Khaleej Times
6 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Dubai Airport's new AI corridor allows passengers to clear immigration without stops: Alkhaleej
Dubai Airport (DXB) is now home to an AI-powered corridor, allowing multiple travellers to pass through immigration controls within seconds. The new service allows up to 10 people to pass through at the same time, without having to stop or present identification documents, according to local newspaper Alkhaleej. The airport systems now recognise passenger data even before they arrive at border crossings, said Lieutenant General Mohamed Ahmed Al Marri, Director-General of the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai. The new AI-powered corridor also speeds up process es and doubles the capacity of airports, as multiple passengers can be processed at once. In addition, AI also helps in detecting violations as it refers any suspicious passport directly to forgery experts, Al Marri added. The new service is the first of its kind worldwide and comes as part of an integrated system that puts the experience of "boundless travel" within travelers' reach, Al Marri stated. DXB maintained its position as the world's busiest airport in terms of international passenger traffic for 2024, according to a report by Airports Council International (ACI) World. Travellers' impressions Many passengers who walked through the corridor expressed their admiration for the quick clearing service. 'I travelled with my family and the experience was smooth and exceptional. The procedures have become much faster thanks to this corridor, as travel can now be completed in record time without the need to stop at passport control counters,' said Mohammed Amer from Syria. Another traveller called Mahmoud Balou from Canada praised Dubai's efforts to adopt the latest technologies that help cut waiting time and prevent congestion, making the travel experience more enjoyable and seamless, according to the Alkhaleej report.
