SASKATCHEWAN EXPORTS GO INTO OVERDRIVE

Saskatchewan's global exports have accelerated by 48 per cent with $75.7 billion in sales from 2008 through 2010. Enterprise Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership provide periodic updates on Saskatchewan trade activity and today released statistics comparing the past three years to the previous three-year period.

"Saskatchewan products are stocking store shelves and fuelling industrial production lines around the world," Enterprise and Trade Minister Jeremy Harrison said. "Saskatchewan's trade numbers have accelerated with a 48 per cent increase in trade and nearly $75.7 billion in sales over the past three years.

"Saskatchewan has been blessed with tremendous resources and a globe full of bidders for those products, but people in Saskatchewan know that making good deals means working hard on the world market."

Enterprise Saskatchewan and STEP calculated the province's long term trade growth from 2008 through 2010 in comparison to the years 2005 through 2007 in the following categories:

• Agriculture exports grew by 67 per cent for a total of $22.4 billion.
• Mining, oil and gas exports grew by 55 per cent for a total of $41 billion.
• Manufacturing exports grew by 12 per cent for a total of $12 billion.
• Total Saskatchewan exports grew by 48 per cent for a total of $75.7 billion.

"Even during a global credit crunch, international buyers are snapping up Saskatchewan products because this province is world renowned for quality," Harrison said. "Every day Saskatchewan people are working hard in our fields, in our mines, in our manufacturing plants and many other key sectors and they are the reason for Saskatchewan's international success.

"Saskatchewan's hard work on the world stage is creating jobs in our communities and generates the resources we need to keep investing in schools, hospitals and roads."

In the past three years, the Government of Saskatchewan and STEP have embarked on trade missions to Ireland, Norway, Denmark, India, Turkey, Syria, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, China and Japan. Saskatchewan also targeted key American markets, including Washington, New York, San Diego and Minneapolis.

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For more information, contact:

Joanne Johnson
Enterprise Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-798-0503