OTTAWA — International Trade Minister Peter Van Loan is touring parts of the Middle East in a week-long effort to boost trade and encourage investment in Canada.

Much of the trip will be spent in Saudi Arabia where he will meet with his counterparts to lay the groundwork for better business relations between the two countries.

Van Loan told the Saudi English newspaper Arab News he plans to discuss full access to the Saudi beef market, co-operation in the agriculture sector and the Kingdom's threat to ban certain BlackBerry services.

The minister said the Kingdom has given only partial access to Canadian beef exporters after lifting a BSE-related ban last year. Saudi Arabia was Canada's sixth largest market for beef exports before the ban was imposed in 2003.

The newspaper also reports Van Loan will witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding committing both countries to strengthening their relationship in the health-care field.

The minister will make a stop in Jordan before travelling to Saudi Arabia on Monday. He travels to Kuwait on Thursday before heading to Qatar where he will stay until Saturday.