Thank you for this opportunity.
I am the business development manager for the Canada-Arab Business Council. My name is Zaineb Kubba.
Please allow me a few minutes just to introduce the council. The CABC is the only Canadian non-profit association focusing exclusively on the trade and economic relations between Canada and the Middle East and North Africa region. It brings together representatives from the Canadian private sector, federal and provincial agencies, and health care institutions with interests in the Middle East and North Africa region, which we call the MENA region.
Our chairman, Hugh O'Donnell, attended the government's announcement introducing the free trade agreement with Jordan in the House of Commons. He stated that the economic possibilities for Canadian businesses engaged with Jordan should be dramatically increased. He also noted that this free trade agreement offers incredible potential for businesses to expand throughout the region, with Jordan being the gateway.
We consider this initiative to be an excellent one for Canadian firms that are considering expanding their business interests into Jordan in a variety of sectors, such as health care, education, infrastructure, information, communication and technology, and forestry products. They will also be able to obtain greater access to a competent Jordian workforce, thereby opening up opportunities for lucrative potential partnerships in the region.
We actually have three major companies in Jordan: Bombardier, SNC-Lavalin, and PotashCorp from Saskatchewan, which I think owns 27% of the national potash under the privatization law. Two other Canadian companies are also short-listed for the peaceful nuclear program. Recently in Jordan, uranium has been found in abundance.
Another thing about Jordan is the stability. It is considered a stable country and the region has very good relationships with all the neighbouring countries. It is also considered a gateway to Iraq.
There is the Canadian Ambassador for Jordan and Iraq, who works out of Jordan. There are high literacy rates and access to health care for Jordanians. There are also megaprojects in Jordan. There is the Red-Dead Canal, which is to connect the Red Sea and the Dead Sea. There is also a railway project to connect the gulf region to Europe. There should be at least 500 kilometres of railway.
There are competitors in Jordan. We have a free trade agreement with the U.S., which was signed 19 years ago. Jordan also has advanced status with the European Union. It is second only to Morocco. It's true that the size of export-import is really small, but there is lots of perspective and potential.
Jordan is also a member of 17 international agreements on human rights and is making a lot of progress in human rights, labour, child labour, and women's rights. Other competitors are the U.S. and Australia, Indonesia, and China. Australia has recently been using the Aqaba Port as a hub and gateway to the region.
So we are definitely for the idea of the free trade agreement with Jordan.
Thank you.