TRADE/INVESTMENT/RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURE AND ENERGY ON JAPAN AGENDA

Saskatchewan took its case for re-opening the Japanese market to imports of Canadian beef and live cattle to over 300 Japanese livestock and meat industry representatives at a seminar hosted by the Canadian Beef Export Federation last Friday in Tokyo.

The Japanese expert commission responsible for making recommendations to the Government of Japan on re-opening its markets to Canadian beef and live cattle trade is about to table its final report.

"This seminar provided a timely opportunity to make Saskatchewan's case that our cattle and beef are safe, that our health and safety standards are based on sound science and that they are in conformity with the highest international animal health and safety standards," Premier Calvert said. "I strongly encouraged Japan to abide by the same science and standards and to resume their trade with Canada, just as the U.S. and other countries have done, as expeditiously as possible."

Saskatchewan also met with Sapporo Breweries and Nippon Flour Mills to consolidate and expand their trade with the provincial agri-food producers in such products as malting barley and roasted flaxseed and oil. Opportunities for future collaboration in durum/pasta procurement and production were also explored with Nippon.

In addition to meeting with Hitachi Corporation to discuss its future plans for energy-related heavy manufacturing in Saskatoon, the Premier met with existing Japanese investors in uranium production in Saskatchewan. All of the latter expressed interest in expanding their exploration and investment activities in the province in the future.

" I was very pleased to learn that our Japanese energy partners are confident about their investment and trade prospects in and from Saskatchewan," Calvert said. "And I am equally encouraged by the range of research and development and technology commercialization work that they said they'd like to pursue further with us, including fuel-cells, hydrogen production and use, coal gasification and low emission power generation; bio-fuels; heavy-oil production and processing, carbon sequestration and uranium fuel processing and re-cycling."

Japan is currently Saskatchewan's second most important offshore market after China, and it is amongst the top sources of foreign direct investment in the province.

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Jay Branch Media Services Regina Phone: (306) 787-6349