TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK

DOHA QATAR Airways CEO Akbar al Baker outlined the importance of the growing trade links between Canada and Qatar in a keynote address he delivered, in Montreal, Canada, recently.

Addressing the over 230 executives from the Montreal business community at the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations (CORIM) business series luncheon, al Baker spoke on the topic Gulf States: Rising Business Opportunities.

In his speech, al Baker provided an informative overview of the strong business links between Qatar and Canada and also highlighted the massive ongoing infrastructure, construction and real estate projects in Qatar as well as the growing presence of Canadian businesses in the country.

“Qatar is an avid supporter of the Canadian brand and opportunities are boundless for Canadian businesses to contribute to the burgeoning infrastructure projects across a range of sectors, in addition to an industry which closely brings our countries together – oil and gas,” al Baker said.

As a strong lever and enabler to the economic ties between the two countries, the CEO spoke about the significance of Qatar Airways’ Montreal services, the only Gulf carrier flying to the Canadian city.

“I want to thank Canada for such a warm welcome over the past 10 months.

Travellers’ enthusiasm has surpassed our expectations.

There are very strong links between our two countries, as well as common interests, both business and cultural, reinforcing those ties even further.” “Qatar Airways is looking forward to expanding its operations in Canada and providing the travelling public with greater access to an expansive route network covering the Middle East, Asia, Asia-Pacific and Africa regions,” added al Baker.

Drawing attention to the subject of bilateral traffic rights, he mentioned the airline’s calls for additional landing rights in Canada, enabling it to expand operations to Montreal as well as other Canadian cities.

He supported his points with examples of the flourishing business landscape in Qatar and the growing number of Canadian businesses currently operating in Qatar, which reinforces the mutually beneficial opportunities that would arise from strengthening the air bridge between the two countries.