CITP Spotlight: Abbas Sumar, Principal of Sumar + Associates

For Abbas Sumar, the future of global business is not defined by the exchange of goods alone, but by the ripple effects those exchanges create across societies and industries.

He believes that every trade initiative, no matter how local it may seem, has the potential to influence economic growth, advance social development, and shape geopolitical relationships on a global scale.

“Impact comes in all shapes and forms,” he says, adding “people of all stripes and backgrounds can and do play an integral role in supporting their own communities to develop as part of a larger ecosystem of actors.”

An early window into diplomacy, development, and global growth

Abbas’ journey into this global ecosystem began not long after he completed grad school. In 2008, he secured an opportunity as a parliamentary staffer to the Hon. Navdeep Bains, whose portfolio included international trade and was linked to the Government of Canada’s Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT).

Armed with a freshly earned degree that immersed him in the theory of international trade law and treaty negotiation, he suddenly found himself on the front lines of policy and diplomacy.

“I was now being exposed to what it meant to operationalize trade between countries and regions, with direct access to policy makers and elected officials, debating the best path forward on how to balance Canadian trade, diplomatic, defence, and development priorities against our closely held national values.”

It was a fascinating atmosphere for the budding trade professional and, instantly, he was fully convinced that international trade, development, and diplomacy were his calling.

Seeing the world through the eyes of its global citizens

Abbas supported and participated in trade negotiations with Colombia and the European Union. There, he witnessed firsthand how trade creates opportunity at every level of society.

“I had the opportunity to see beyond the glitz and glamour of boardrooms and ballrooms to meet the people who make global trade possible and drive economic growth.”

Meeting local community members doing the groundwork in international business reshaped his understanding of what economic partnership truly means, and who it impacts most.

Those experiences remain some of his most cherished, reinforcing the notion that international trade touches lives, identities, and futures—not only markets.

Strengthening Canada’s role in a globally connected future

Throughout his career, Abbas has contributed to major initiatives spanning the international trade,  education and development sectors. His work in each of those sectors consistently unearthed a common theme: pride in being a part of teams committed to advancing Canada’s position abroad.

Abbas felt he contributed to this development by:

• delivering development assistance and humanitarian programming through Global Affairs Canada
• working with provincial and federal-level exporting education abroad and using this knowledge to tap into the entrepreneurial spirit at colleges and universities
• creating connections and pathways to strengthen trade and economic growth between Canada’s smaller communities and other countries.

In all cases, he was motivated to advance prosperity in Canada and internationally, while empowering communities to shape their own futures as part of the global economy.

Advice for professionals ready to make an impact

Abbas is a strong believer in taking initiative and embracing the unexpected. He encourages anyone interested in the field of international trade to “think about the impact—economic, social and geo-political—that you are seeking to have today and tomorrow.”

“think about the impact—economic, social and geo-political—that you are seeking to have today and tomorrow.”

He also encourages individuals to “connect with CITP I FIBP professionals and other experts for coffee chats to get a sense of what the day-to-day looks like,” and to “seek out opportunities, voluntary or paid, to test the waters before diving in too deep.”

Don’t forget to embrace adventure

With his own career path being “a bit of an uncharted adventure,” Abbas thinks that embracing adventure is a great professional learning experience too, adding that he has been fortunate to work on international trade and development in many different ways. This has given him the advantage of seeing trade issues from multiple angles and, more importantly, recognizing their impact in on a wider scale.

Confirming global expertise through the CITP designation

Abbas’ path to the CITP designation came, unsurprisingly, through the ecosystem of international trade.

“Both as faculty and senior administration, I had been exposed to the FITT program and its many benefits for several years.”

“For many past students and instructors alike, the FITTskills courses effectively manage to synthesize the complexity of international trade management into an easy-to-comprehend professional development program with opportunities for practical application.”

He also knew that its program design, content focus, and global recognition served as a key differentiator to many full-time graduate programs. So much so that “many reputable post-secondary institutions across Canada recognize its professional efficacy and have elected to align undergraduate and graduate program curriculum to FITT and CITP requirements to increase the overall competitiveness of program graduates.” This serves high praise and testament to the program’s quality and market relevance, he believes.

Earning the designation felt particularly meaningful too:

“I am thrilled to join an illustrious group of global professionals with the CITP designation and to be recognized for my experience and knowledge in the field.”

Amplifying opportunities between Canada and the world

Now Principal and Founder of Sumar + Associates and the Dean of International Education at Durham College, Abbas sees the CITP designation as a powerful enabler—one that reinforces his expertise and opens doors to new collaborations.

He believes it will continue to support his efforts as a validator of capability and a way to increase trade and development opportunities between Canada and the global economy.

A future shaped by purpose, partnership, and possibility

Abbas enters the next chapter of his career with a clear vision: a future where international trade operates as a tool for shared progress, ensuring both Canada and its partners around the world thrive together.

Whether he is advising, teaching, or empowering others to step confidently into international markets, he remains focused on creating impact in the broader ecosystem from all angles.