Qatar to invest in Canadian projects as Ottawa diversifies relationships
Qatar has committed to major investments in Canadian "nation-building" projects as the two countries also deepen their military and people-to-people ties, Qatar's foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
The move is expected to create a swell of new Canadian jobs, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated in his own remarks, adding that Qatar will make "significant strategic investments" to boost Canada's economy.
A joint statement from the two leaders committed to accelerating investment and collaboration across AI, quantum computing, aerospace, defence technologies, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and agri-food.
The two countries will establish a joint Canada-Qatar commission on economic, commercial, and technical cooperation and begin negotiations on a framework for exchanging expertise on military and security matters.
The two countries are also working on negotiating a "double-taxation" agreement to make it easier for Canadians and Qataris to work and invest in each other's countries.
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Carney's visit to Doha over the weekend was the first such trip by any Canadian prime minister, where he met with Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
The deliverables include Canada finalising the stalled Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) with Qatar by summer, and Ottawa creating a defence attache post in Doha.
Flights between Canada and Qatar will also be increased, and the two sides signed a "letter of intent on cooperation" during the 2026 Fifa World Cup, which Canada will host alongside the US and Mexico.
The last tournament was hosted by Qatar in 2022.
Qatar's foreign ministry described the outcomes as evidence of "a new chapter in relations".
Looking beyond the US
Canada's relatively new ambassador to Qatar, Karim Morcos, has been drumming up awareness of the shared values between the two countries on his Instagram account since his credentialling in July.
A readout of the meeting provided by the prime minister's office said the two leaders also discussed "global peace and stability" in the Middle East, with little further detail.
Both Carney and Sheikh Tamim have been invited to join US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" for Gaza.
Canada recognised a Palestinian state in September, alongside European allies.
"The Prime Minister recognised His Highness’ leadership in promoting global peace and stability, particularly in the Middle East, and emphasised Canada’s gratitude for the many times Qatar has provided consular and diplomatic assistance," the readout said, adding that Sheikh Tamim has also been invited to visit Canada.
Carney's stop in Doha followed a closely watched and historic visit to China, as Ottawa looks to strengthen its relationships outside of its biggest trading partner, the US.
The prime minister spent four days in China and spoke of a "new world order". He walked away with an agreement stipulating that Beijing lower tariffs on Canadian canola oil exports to 15 percent, while Canada takes in 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles.
In May, not long after assuming office, Carney called the "old" Canada-US relationship "over".
No Canadian leader had been to China in some eight years, and the relationship between the two sides had been strained since Canada arrested a senior executive from the Chinese tech giant, Huawei, based on a US request, in 2018.
China then arrested two Canadians it suspected of being spies.
All three have since been released in what was effectively a prisoner swap.
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