South Asia/Oceania/Middle East/North Africa Branch

The South Asia/Oceania/Middle East/North Africa Branch has the mandate for investment attraction, trade development, and government to government relations across three geographic regions spanning Southeast Asia to India, the Middle East and North Africa, and south to Australia and New Zealand.

Key activities for the branch are:

Government to Government Relations:

  • Represent and advise on Alberta's interests with regards to foreign government relations.
  • Manage Alberta's twinning relationships with international jurisdictions.
  • Coordinate inbound programs for visiting foreign officials.

Investment Attraction:

  • Promote Alberta's business opportunities to targeted companies in priority markets to attract investment to Alberta.
  • Market Alberta by facilitating networking events and programs, and contact introductions in priority markets.
  • Coordinate strategic investment and media/journalist missions to Alberta.

Trade Development:

  • Provide information to Alberta companies attempting to expand and/or initiate international business in order to increase awareness of market opportunities in South Asia, Oceania, Middle East and North Africa.
  • Support market entry initiatives for export ready Alberta companies by showcasing their technologies, products and services in South Asia, Oceania, Middle East and North Africa.
  • Provide Alberta companies with strategic advice as to how best approach the South Asian, Oceanic, Middle Eastern and North African markets.

Priority target markets for trade and investment include India, Pakistan, and the Persian Gulf. The team also services trade with North Africa, given its close relationship with the Middle East.

Priority industries are:

For more information on Alberta's relations with these regions, view

For information on Alberta trade, investment or international intergovernmental initiatives with these regions, contact:

South Asia

Rahul Sharma

Trade and Investment Director - Asia
South Asia/Oceania/Middle East/North Africa Branch
780-427-6354
rahul.sharma@gov.ab.ca

Middle East

Norm Morrison

Trade and Investment Director - Middle East
South Asia/Oceania/Middle East/North Africa Branch
780-427-6421
norm.morrison@gov.ab.ca