SASKATCHEWAN COMPLETES FIRST COMPREHENSIVE TRADE MISSION TO INDIA AND BANGLADESH

Saskatchewan Delegation Visits Growing Economies of India and Bangladesh as Part of the Province's Long-term Strategy to Engage Key Markets for Saskatchewan's Resources and Expertise

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says the province's first comprehensive trade mission to India and Bangladesh highlighted the contributions Saskatchewan can make in exporting key resources and partnering in research with these two important trading partners, both now and in the future.

"We were able to tell the Saskatchewan story to high ranking government officials in both countries, including Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Mr. Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of the dynamic Indian Province of Gujarat," Wall said.

While in India, Wall also held meetings with the Ministers of Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Science and Technology, Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Minister of Mines. In Bangladesh, Wall met with the Ministers of Commerce and Foreign Affairs.

"India and Bangladesh are incredibly important destinations for Saskatchewan food exports," Wall said. "Saskatchewan supplies 75 per cent of India's dried pea imports and 80 per cent of India's lentil imports. We also supply 97 per cent of the peas imported into Bangladesh and 86 per cent of lentil imports. One of the purposes of the mission was to say thank you and discuss how this relationship can be strengthened through science, technology and future research partnerships to help India and Bangladesh achieve food security.

"We also made the case for Saskatchewan as a source of long-term energy security for India and emphasized the role that ongoing partnerships with Saskatchewan can play in helping India and Bangladesh build their innovation economies," Wall said. "Because of this visit, we are now entering a whole new era of maturity in our relationships with these countries."

The visit to India extended beyond trade. In New Delhi, Wall was joined by Dr. Lalita Malhotra from Prince Albert who is receiving support from the Government of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency to establish a cervical screening program to improve maternal health for hundreds of women in the New Delhi area.

Also in India, the Government of Saskatchewan signed Memoranda's of Understanding (MOU) with several different agencies. An agreement with the Gujarat Minerals Development Corporation will see Saskatchewan share information on mineral exploration and development activities. An agreement with the Indian Ministry of Agriculture will see exchanges of information on crop production and food processing.

Wall was joined on the trade mission by members of the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP) and the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG).

"The trade mission was a great success, and I'd like to thank Premier Wall for leading this mission and telling the Saskatchewan story to India and Bangladesh," Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Chair Murray Purcell said.

During the mission, SPG announced research findings produced by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University showing that Indian customers will accept the use of Saskatchewan green lentils in their traditional Indian foods.

"This could capture up to 20 per cent of the imported pea market or 200,000 tonnes annually, which would be worth up to $160 million annually to Saskatchewan pulse producers," Purcell said.

STEP members conducted hundreds of business meetings with Indian companies throughout the mission that will provide value-added business opportunities in coming months, such as the two contracts signed by Saskatoon-based International Road Dynamics (IRD) in Mumbai on March 10.

Also, part of Premier Wall's mission were the University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan and SIAST, the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology.

The University of Saskatchewan's Karen Chad, Vice-president Research, Mary Buhr, Dean of the College of Agriculture, and Peggy Schmeiser, Director of Government Relations, were able to visit a number of the university's partners and meet with collaborators, government officials and researchers across India and Bangladesh.

"The University of Saskatchewan has actively engaged in collaborative activities with world class Indian and Bangladeshi institutions for decades," Chad said. "We are excited by our ongoing work in these vibrant and dynamic countries and are proud to have over 25 agreements with these two nations."

"SIAST has extensive experience working in more than 30 countries around the globe," SIAST Senior Vice-president, academic David Walls said. "An agreement signed with Chartar Vidya Mandal College will see SIAST deliver a business administration program in Gujarat and expand our international activities."

During a visit to Gujarat, the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce also signed an MOU with the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce to create increased trade, investment opportunities and economic development for Gujarati and Canadian companies.

"The most important part of this mission will be the follow-up," Wall said. "As with all relationships, there is nothing more important than face-to-face contact, and I was happy to be able to meet so many people in India and Bangladesh.

"I have every confidence the time we spent during this visit will continue to pay dividends, for many years ahead."

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For more information, contact:

Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425