Saudi Arabia, Canada reestablish business council as ties warm

Saudi Arabia and Canada agreed to reestablish their joint business council on Thursday in another sign of warming ties after the two countries resumed relations last year.

The Federation of Saudi Chambers said in a post on X that it signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a joint Saudi-Canadian business council, in the presence of Canada’s ambassador to Riyadh, Jean-Philippe Linteau. Such a council has not been active for five years, according to the federation.

The council will work to strengthen communication between Saudi and Canadian businesses, share information related to markets and investment, exchange trade delegations and the like, the federation said.

The news follows a Tuesday phone call between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The two discussed bilateral relations and unspecified international developments, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.