The Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, concluded, on January 12, 2026, a visit to Saudi Arabia to promote Canadian trade and investment opportunities alongside a Canadian senior-level business delegation.
The Minister and the delegation, which included companies from the clean technology and energy, information and communications technology and artificial intelligence, and infrastructure sectors, strengthened Canada's economic presence, identified new areas for collaboration and expanded opportunities for Canadian businesses in Saudi Arabia, one of the world's fastest-growing markets.
In Riyadh, Minister Sidhu and Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia, witnessed the signing of approximately $600 million in commercial partnership agreements, including between:
- CanSense and SAAK International
- Niagara College and:
- Colleges of Excellence
- Saudi Entertainment Academy
- Inaya Medical Colleges
- BlackBerry and Afaq Al Jazeera
- OpenText and Najm
The agreements that Niagara College alone signed were valued at over $580 million, highlighting the many opportunities for Canada-Saudi Arabia partnerships.
With the goal of expanding commercial cooperation, facilitating trade and investment and advancing negotiations toward a Canada-Saudi Arabia foreign investment promotion and protection agreement, Minister Sidhu had strategic meetings with Saudi Arabian ministers and senior officials, including:
- Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, Minister of the National Guard
- Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Minister of Investment
- Majid bin Abdullah Al‑Kassabi, Minister of Commerce
- Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology
- Turqi Alnowaiser, Deputy Governor of the Public Investment Fund and Head of International Investments Division
In his meetings, the Minister noted the many partnership opportunities for Canadians in Saudi Arabia's implementation of its Vision 2030 economic transformation agenda. The agenda brings with it the possibility of mutually beneficial joint ventures, knowledge exchanges and investments.
Minister Sidhu also toured several development projects and Canadian business operations in Saudi Arabia, including:
- the CAE UAV Training Centre, which highlights Canada's advanced defence and aerospace capabilities
- the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, which preserves and develops Diriyah, a historic area northwest of Riyadh
- OpenText's new regional headquarters to attend the inauguration
These visits highlighted the scale of Saudi Arabia's infrastructure and urban development plans and the growing demand for Canadian expertise in mining, energy, advanced manufacturing, innovation, artificial intelligence, life sciences and education.
At the Saudi-Canada Business and Investment Forum, Minister Sidhu and Minister Al-Falih reactivated the Joint Economic Commission (JEC). The JEC will help formalize bilateral cooperation and create new opportunities for Canadian exporters and investors with trusted economic partners in the Middle East.
