Riyadh – Canada revealed Ottawa’s plan to expand cooperation with Riyadh in education, healthcare, advanced emerging technologies, mining and sustainable energy at a time when Saudi Arabia ranks 6th among countries that send foreign students to Canada.

Canadian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dennis Horak told Asharq Al-Awsat that his country is committed to increase flow of commodities, services and investments between the two countries, confirming that it is time to promote this economic relation to a higher level.

Horak noted that the volume of bilateral trade exchange reached around $3.2 billion in 2016, which is less than that in 2014 that reached $4 billion. He said that this decrease was the result of lower oil prices.

The Canadian Ambassador explained that 17 Canadian educational institutes will participate in the International Exhibition and Conference of Higher Education, which will be held from 12 to 15 April 2017 in Riyadh, and will include 13 universities, two colleges and two language schools.

“Trade relations between Canada and Saudi Arabia are strong as the Kingdom has always been a major trade partner for Canada in the region,” Horak told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“However, we can increase cooperation since there are tremendous potentials to achieve comprehensive growth, and we in Canada are particularly interested in programs and opportunities provided by Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program,” Horak said.

Horak added: “There is an economic complementarity between our economies; given the significant role the resources in Canada and Saudi Arabia play. But, this extends to include great ties the two countries have established in education, healthcare, emerging advanced technologies, mining and sustainable energy sectors.”

Canada will expand its economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia in various sectors in general and in education sector in precise, Horak noted.

He stressed that his country represents a great chance for Saudi students to achieve their academic aspirations and improve their career opportunities, noting that Canada received more than 11,600 Saudi students in 2015, placing Saudi Arabia in the 6th rank among countries sending their students to Canada.