RIYADH, 9 January — A delegation of Canadian parliamentarians led by the Speaker of the Senate Gildas L. Molgat will visit Saudi Arabia on Jan. 18-23. The visit, in response to an invitation by Shoura Council President Sheikh Muhammad ibn Jubair, is primarily intended to hold wide-ranging consultations with senior Saudi officials bilateral, regional and international issues.
This was disclosed by Canadian Ambassador Melvyn L. MacDonald here yesterday. Yves Duval, third secretary for political, economic and public affairs was also present. Ambassador MacDonald said that the visit of the Senatorial delegation was the follow up to the visit of Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien to the Kingdom in April last year. Molgat will be accompanied by five Canadian senators during this trip, which will also take him to Qatar.
During his stay in the Kingdom, Speaker Molgat will be holding wide-ranging talks with senior Saudi officials including Ibn Jubair, Vice President of Shoura Dr Abdullah Omar Naseef, several ministers and officials of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI). The talks will cover a regional and international issues especially Saudi-Canadian relations, the WTO negotiations and the Middle East peace process.
"This is the high-level visit that will further expand our relations and this visit of Canadian parliamentarians will allow the Canadian side the better to understand the current situation and priorities of the Kingdom", said Ambassador MacDonald adding that the visit of this delegation and speaker Molgat is proof of the commitment of both of the Canadian government.
The Canadian speaker, who presides over the proceedings of the Senate, is the fourth in the precedence of Canadian dignitaries representing the Senate and the government in visits overseas. Molgat was appointed speaker of by Chretien in 1994 and was reappointed in 1997. Mogat's appointment caps a long and distinguished political career, which spans more than 45 years.
Asked about some new contracts or joint ventures to be set up in Saudi Arabia involving Canadian companies, McDonald said that the National Guard of Saudi Arabia had awarded a major contract to a Canadian company, GM Defense (a subsidiary of General Motors), to supply 1500 world-class light armored vehicles. The two sides are also working to cooperate on projects in transportation and mining sectors.
On commercial front, Saudi Arabia has been Canada's largest trading partner in the Middle East and there is a broad scope for further expansion in trade. Canada's exports to the Kingdom, he said, declined from Canadian dollars CD350 million in 1998 to CD300 million last year. Canadian imports, mainly comprising oil and petrochemicals, increased from CD394 million to CD429 million during the same period.
On WTO negotiations, he said that the Canada had offered to provide every assistance to the Kingdom for the accession to WTO. Canada currently holds the chair of the Working Group looking at Saudi Arabia's application for WTO membership. "We are very hopeful that we will come to an agreement very quickly sometime this year", Ambassador MacDonald said.
