Al-Katib headed the ambitious agrifood strategy table in 2018.Ottawa-- Murad Al-Katib, President and CEO of AGT Foods of Regina, will the agrifood representative on the Industry Strategy Council (ISC) established by the federal government to help steer the recovery of the Canadian economy post COVID-19.Al-Katib chaired the Agrifood Strategy Table whose 2018 report charted a direction for the sector to achieve $85 billion in exports by 2025, $10 billion more than the government aimed for in its 2017 budget.Erin Gowriluk, Executive Director of Grain Growers of Canada, said it's good news for the agrifood sector to have Al-Katib again in a strategic role. “We are pleased to see that he is back to oversee a process that under his leadership was inclusive and laser-focused on what every sector within the agriculture industry needs to ensure we reach our full growth potential.“There has never been a more critical time to ensure that the agriculture sector is well positioned to contribute to the post-pandemic economic recovery,” she said. “To do that, we need to look at ways to realize the recommendations that the Agrifood table brought forward in 2018. It's go time and GGC is ready to work with our industry partners and Mr. Al-Katib to get back on track to reach $85 billion in agri-food exports by 2025.”He is among nine business leaders who will join Chair Monique Leroux and Mona Nemer, Canada's Chief Science Advisor, on the ISC, which will be an advisory body for the government on post-pandemic recovery.In addition to the heads of the six other strategy tables that reported two years ago, Sylvie Vachon, President and CEO of the Montreal Port Authority, will join the ISC as the transportation sector representative. She is well considered well versed on freight movement and also the key parts of the Canadian economy. The other ISC sectors are advanced manufacturing, clean technology, digital industries, health and bio-sciences, resources of the future, tourism and hospitality and energy.The ISC will hold virtual meetings about every two weeks over the next 90 days to identify and understand sectoral pressures, both specific to a particular industry as well as shared across industries.Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains said the government “recognizes that a smooth economic recovery will require continued collaboration between the public and private sectors in the wake of the direct effects, changes and adaptations related to COVID-19.“Collaboration is our best strategy to help all Canadians emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic as strong as possible. Ministers and departments across government will be engaged as we work with the ISC to continue our whole-of-government approach to confronting COVID-19. I look forward to working hand in hand with businesses toward a recovery that makes Canadian industry more prosperous, equitable and dynamic than ever.”Leroux said the ISC will work at being “a starting point for Canada's economic recovery in this new global context. The Council will be a partnership between the private sector and the Government of Canada to help gain an understanding of industry challenges.”Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.