Canada and Qatar have entered a new phase of bilateral relations, announcing fresh partnerships in trade, commerce, and defence cooperation during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s one-day visit to Doha. The visit marked the first time a sitting Canadian prime minister has travelled to the Gulf state.
Speaking at a press conference in Qatar’s capital on Jan. 18, Carney said Doha has committed to making “significant strategic investments” in Canada’s major nation-building projects. The move aligns with the prime minister’s broader goal of doubling Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade and reducing reliance on a single trading partner.
According to a news release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the two countries have agreed to accelerate two-way investment and collaboration in key sectors, including artificial intelligence (AI), aerospace, defence technologies, agriculture, and agri-food.
“This capital will help the projects get built faster and supercharge our energy industries, while helping to create thousands of high-paying careers for Canadians,” Carney told reporters. The PMO added that Qatari investments are expected to support growth in clean energy, health, AI, and defence industries across Canada.
Carney framed the agreement within a broader global context, pointing to growing geopolitical uncertainty and weakening multilateral institutions.
“In response, Canada is focused on what we can control securing new trade and investment partnerships—so we’re not reliant on a single country but are stronger and more resilient to global shocks,” he said.
Bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and Qatar reached $325 million in 2024, according to the PMO. Canada’s major exports to Qatar include machinery, aircraft, electrical equipment, and specialized commodities, while imports from Qatar are dominated by mineral fuels, aluminum, and fertilizers.
A central element of the renewed partnership is the commitment to finalize a long-delayed Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) by the summer of 2026. Negotiations on the deal began in 2018 but stalled for several years. Carney said concluding the agreement would boost investor confidence and open doors for Canadian companies seeking to expand in Qatar’s nearly $290-billion economy.
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne, speaking from Doha on Jan. 17, said a finalized FIPA would provide much-needed certainty for investors.
“You remove barriers, you increase predictability and security of investment and that’s needed in the world,” he said.
Canada and Qatar also agreed to establish a Joint Canada–Qatar Commission on Economic, Commercial, and Technical Cooperation to further boost bilateral trade. In addition, both sides will begin negotiations on a double-taxation agreement, aimed at making it easier for businesses and workers to operate in both countries.
The partnership extends beyond economics. The PMO confirmed that Ottawa will begin negotiations with Doha on a framework for cooperation in military, security, and defence matters. Canada will also establish a defence attaché position in Doha to strengthen collaboration.
In the technology sector, both countries plan to expand investment opportunities in AI and information and computer technology, reflecting Qatar’s growing interest in knowledge-based industries.
Carney also emphasized the importance of strengthening people-to-people ties. Plans include expanding direct flights between Canada and Qatar to boost tourism and business travel. The prime minister said he has invited Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to visit Canada later this year.
Describing the evolving relationship, Carney said the Canada–Qatar partnership “marks a new era,” noting that the two nations are moving “from being close friends to strategic partners.”
The language mirrors comments the prime minister made earlier this month during his visit to Beijing, where he described Canada’s relationship with China as entering a “new era.” Those remarks drew sharp criticism from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and other critics, who questioned Ottawa’s approach to countries with controversial human rights records.
Human rights organizations have also raised concerns about Qatar, citing migrant labour abuses, surveillance, and restrictions on free expression. In response, the PMO said Carney acknowledged Sheikh Tamim’s role in promoting regional stability and thanked Qatar for its past diplomatic and consular support to Canada.
As his Doha visit concludes, Carney is set to travel to Davos, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting from Jan. 19 to 21, where global trade, investment, and geopolitical stability are expected to dominate discussions.
