MEDIA ADVISORIES
KNUTSON - VISIT TO ARABIAN GULF COUNTRIES
March 19, 2002 No. 44
Gar Knutson, Secretary of State (Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East), will visit the United Arab Emirates,
Qatar and Kuwait from March 19 to 28, 2002, to discuss trade opportunities with key local business and government
representatives. He will also call on Canadian businesses and other Canadians residing in the region.
While in Dubai from March 20 to 23, Mr. Knutson will visit the Dubai Marina Project, a new city on a man-made
waterway that is designed and managed by HOK Canada. He will also meet with Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saaed Al Maktoum,
Chairman of Emirates Airlines, which recently signed a $100 million, 10-year agreement with Canadian company CAE to
build and jointly operate a new aviation training centre in Dubai. Mr. Knutson will also attend a showing and reception in
honour of the work of Canadian artist Francis Dick, a member of the Kwakwaka'wakw Band of Kingcome Inlet, who is
currently exhibiting at the international "Women in Art" event in Sharjah.
On March 24, in Abu Dhabi, Mr. Knutson will meet Director General Mohammed Omar Abdullah from the Abu Dhabi
Chamber of Commerce, and hold discussions at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies.
In Qatar, from March 25 to 26, Mr. Knutson will attend a reception with the local and Canadian business community, as
well as Qatari contacts. He will then travel to Kuwait where he will participate in a Canadian Commercial Circle briefing
and attend a round-table luncheon with senior representatives from the Kuwaiti business community.
Media representatives are advised that Mr. Knutson will be available to discuss his experiences in the region by
teleconference on Wednesday, March 27 at 10:30 a.m. Details will be available on Tuesday, March 26, to journalists who
wish to participate.
Media/photo opportunities are scheduled as follows:
Photo opportunity: Dubai Marina Project
Date: Friday, March 22, 2002
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Mina Sayiheh District
United Arab Emirates
Photo opportunity: Sheikh Khalifa Medical Centre
Date: Sunday, March 24, 2002
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Sheikh Khalifa Medical Centre, Karamah Street
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Media availability by teleconference
Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2002
Time: 10:30 a.m. (Ottawa time)
Access code: Please call the Media Relations Office to obtain an access code and the toll-free number
For more information, please contact:
| Susan McConnell
Office of the Secretary of State (Central and Eastern Europe
and the Middle East)
(613) 990-7769 |
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca |
| 
