Prime Minister Carney Secures Major Trade, Investment, and Defence Partnership With Qatar

Canada–Qatar partnership strengthens trade, investment, and defence ties

Doha, Qatar — Prime Minister Mark Carney has secured a sweeping new strategic partnership with Qatar, marking a significant expansion of Canada’s trade, investment, and defence relationships in the Gulf region and a milestone in Canada’s broader effort to diversify global economic partnerships.

The agreement follows Prime Minister Carney’s visit to Doha — the first-ever visit by a sitting Canadian Prime Minister to the country — where he met with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar. The visit comes at a moment of heightened global economic uncertainty, as Canada works to reduce reliance on single markets and strengthen resilience against international shocks.

Qatar and Canada are both ambitious builders and forces for peace and stability on the world stage.

We’re going to collaborate more on AI, tech, and defence and make it easier for Canadians and Qataris to do business together — to create more opportunities for both our peoples. pic.twitter.com/2IEivTRMSA

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) January 19, 2026

A Strategic Shift Toward Economic Resilience

The Prime Minister’s visit reflects a broader shift in Canada’s foreign economic strategy: securing new sources of capital, expanding export markets, and positioning Canada as a stable, reliable destination for long-term global investment. According to the joint announcement, Qatar committed to making significant strategic investments in Canadian nation-building projects, with a focus on accelerating major developments in clean energy, health, artificial intelligence, and defence.

Canadian officials say the investments are expected to help advance major infrastructure projects more quickly while creating thousands of high-paying jobs and supporting long-term economic growth across the country.

Accelerated Investment and Sector-Specific Cooperation

Building on the visit, Canada and Qatar issued a joint statement committing to accelerated two-way investment and cooperation across a wide range of strategic sectors, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, aerospace, defence technologies, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and agri-food.

A key outcome of the talks was agreement to conclude negotiations on a new Canada–Qatar Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA) by the summer of 2026. Negotiations on the agreement had been stalled for several years. Once finalized, the FIPA is expected to make it easier for Canadian firms to operate in Qatar and attract Qatari investment into Canada’s nearly $2 trillion economy.

To support this expanded relationship, the two countries also agreed to deepen cooperation through:

• The establishment of a Joint Canada–Qatar Commission on Economic, Commercial, and Technical Cooperation.

• Expanded collaboration in information technology and AI-driven industries.

• The launch of negotiations on a defence and security cooperation framework.

• The initiation of talks on a double-taxation agreement, aimed at facilitating cross-border work and investment.

Defence, Security, and Global Events

Defence cooperation was a central pillar of the discussions. Prime Minister Carney announced that Canada will establish a Defence Attaché office in Doha, increasing the depth of bilateral defence engagement and supporting Canadian defence exports.

The two countries also agreed to exchange security-related best practices in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 26, which Canada will co-host alongside the United States and Mexico. Canadian officials noted Qatar’s experience hosting the 2022 World Cup as a valuable source of expertise.

Health, Innovation, and People-to-People Ties

While in Doha, the Prime Minister also met with Qatar’s Minister of Public Health to discuss shared priorities in healthcare, biotechnology, and AI-driven medical technologies. Canadian companies were highlighted as potential partners within Qatar’s rapidly expanding health and life sciences ecosystem.

Prime Minister Carney emphasized the growing people-to-people ties between the two countries, noting that nearly 10,000 Canadians live and work in Qatar, contributing across aerospace, defence, AI, and agri-food sectors. He also acknowledged Qatar’s role in evacuating more than 200 Canadians from Afghanistan in 2021 — a moment officials describe as foundational to the trust between the two countries.

As Qatar begins its 2026 Year of Culture, the Prime Minister extended an invitation to the Amir of Qatar and to Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani to visit Canada in the coming year.

A Long-Term Strategic Partnership

Canada and Qatar enter this expanded partnership with complementary economic strengths and shared goals around diversification, security, and innovation. With Qatar’s economy valued at nearly $290 billion and its investment in Canada growing by close to 20 per cent annually, federal officials say the relationship is poised to play a larger role in Canada’s economic and security strategy in the years ahead.

As Canada works to scale up defence capabilities, build major energy projects, and maintain global leadership in AI and advanced technologies, the government says deeper ties with Qatar will help accelerate those objectives while reinforcing international stability.

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