SASKATCHEWAN FORGING STRONGER AGRICULTURAL TRADE WITH TURKEY

Saskatchewan is continuing to actively pursue, create and strengthen its trade relationships with foreign markets with an agriculturally focused trade mission to Turkey which begins tomorrow.

The mission is being jointly undertaken by Enterprise Saskatchewan, the province's special agency responsible for economic development, and the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP). The team departs on April 17 and returns to Regina on April 26 after meetings in the cities of Antalya and Mersin in Turkey.

The focus of the mission will be a Saskatchewan delegation to the Confédération Internationale du Commerce et des Industries des Légumes Secs/International Pulse Trade and Industry Conference (CICILS) in Turkey, the world's premier international pulse industry convention. Additionally, meetings are scheduled with various government and business interests with an emphasis on Saskatchewan's position as a major producer of pulse crops. Enterprise and Innovation Minister Lyle Stewart, a pulse producer himself, will be part of the delegation and will be a presenter at CICILS.

"Pea, lentil and chickpea production in Saskatchewan has grown at an average annual rate of five per cent over the past 10 years, yet there is still considerable room to expand our pulse production and processing," Stewart said. "Saskatchewan is not sitting back and riding out the global recession we are witnessing - we are working to establish new and stronger markets for our products. The world needs what Saskatchewan has, and nothing has changed that fact."

"Saskatchewan has assumed the ranks of being a global leader in pulse production and export," STEP President and CEO Lionel LaBelle said. "That is why we are extremely excited that Minister Stewart is participating with us, along with numerous Saskatchewan companies at the Global CICILS Convention, to network and assist us in growing this lucrative export opportunity for Saskatchewan."

Canada is the world's leading pulse exporter, and Saskatchewan is the undisputed leader in Canadian pulse exports. Saskatchewan produces 99 per cent of Canada's lentils and chickpeas, and over three quarters of its pea crop. The export value of Canadian pulses in 2008 was approximately $1.9 billion, with Saskatchewan accounting for $1.6 billion of this figure.

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For more information, contact:

Jamie Shanks
Enterprise Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-798-0503
Email: jamie.shanks@enterprisesask.ca