Minister Joly welcomes Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to Canada
News release
May 12, 2023 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that on May 12, 2023, she will welcome Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Canada for his first official visit here.
The ministers will meet to continue to build on the two countries’ strong bilateral relationship and people-to-people ties. They will discuss areas of growth and enhanced bilateral cooperation, as well as regional peace and stability and humanitarian priorities.
During the visit, the ministers will discuss shared priorities, including the need to address climate change, as well as pressing threats to regional and global security, including the conflicts in Ukraine, Syria and Sudan. The ministers will also discuss the two countries’ commitments to multilateralism and international law.
As close friends and partners, Canada and Kuwait have a strong history of collaboration, including during the Gulf War and its aftermath and, more recently, as part of the Global Coalition against Daesh. Kuwait also played an essential role during Canada’s evacuation efforts in Afghanistan in 2021.
Quotes
“The Middle East is a diverse region with unique opportunities, and during this time of growing global uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to strengthen our bonds with partners such as Kuwait. I’m looking forward to hosting Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in Ottawa. I know our two countries have much to explore as we grow our bilateral relationship and work together to promote an inclusive and more peaceful and prosperous world for Canadians and Kuwaitis.”
- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Quick facts
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Kuwait hosts one of the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF’s) operational support hubs; the hub provides pivotal support to Canada’s regional military operations. Since 2011, Kuwait has hosted several hundred CAF personnel, who take part in multinational counter-terrorism and stability operations in the region, including the Global Coalition against Daesh.
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Kuwait is the second-largest foreign direct investor in Canada from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region based on available foreign direct investment stock data for 2021. In 2022, two-way merchandise trade was about $582.5 million, making Kuwait Canada’s seventh-largest bilateral trading partner in the MENA region. In 2022, Kuwait was Canada’s eleventh-most-important export market in the region, with Canada’s exports totalling $187.5 million.
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Canada is the education destination of choice for an increasing number of Kuwaiti students, with a growth of 64% over the last five years.
Associated links
Contacts
Adrien Blanchard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Adrien.Blanchard@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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