Sandra Pupatello, minister of economic development for Ontario, said here Sunday that her ongoing trip to the Kingdom and other Gulf states were mainly intended to strengthen trade ties and promote relations in health sector.
"This is the first health-focused visit to Riyadh and other Gulf states," said Pupatello.
The Canadian minister was the main speaker during a business seminar attended by about 100 Saudi and Canadian businessmen and health officials on Saturday. She also addressed a group of businessmen during a reception hosted by the Canadian Embassy Saturday night. Richard Dubuc, Canadian trade counselor, introduced the minister to the guests.
Shoura member Tarek A. Fadaak was also present at the reception.
Referring to her talks with senior education and health officials, including Minister of Higher
Education Khaled Al-Anqari, Pupatello said that her meetings mainly dealt with "the plans and
proposals to boost relations" in the health education. To this end, she noted that Riyadh and Ottawa
have already signed a health agreement on federal level that paves the way for a greater exchange of expertise and technical knowledge between the two countries.
The minister, who is accompanied by some 40 top-notch businessmen from Ontario, said that an education delegation focusing on primary and secondary education sector will visit Saudi Arabia soon. She also underscored the significance of her talks with Saudi officials, saying that her visit will facilitate partnership in health care sector between the two countries. It will give impetus to the development plan of the Saudi health sector, she added.
The Canadian health care system is recognized as among the world's best, she added. She pointed out that about 3,500 Saudi doctors have completed postgraduate studies in Canada including Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah. About 800 Saudi doctors are currently studying at various Canadian universities and hospitals.
"About 50 percent of the total 12,000 foreign students in Canada are on the rolls of the colleges and universities in Ontario alone," she noted.
She said that she was seeking maximum level of cooperation with health care institutions in the areas of constructing facilities, medical supplies, training and exchange of health care professionals. On the facilities Ontario offers in the education sector, Pupatello said that the education falls under provincial jurisdiction. Publicly funded elementary and secondary schools are administered by the Ontario Ministry of Education, while colleges and universities are administered by the Ontario
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, she explained.
She said that Ontario is the largest province by population and second largest in total area. Ontario is Canada's leading manufacturing province accounting for 52 percent of the total national manufacturing shipments reported annually. In total, there are 22 public universities, 24 colleges, and 17 private universities in Ontario. In addition, there are over 500 world-class private career colleges that are not classified as universities. Ontario's private career colleges provide specific skills training for employment.
