OUR FUTURE IS WIDE OPEN TO FOCUS ON OUT-OF-PROVINCE BUSINESS MARKETS

Saskatchewan is targeting out-of-province business audiences in the province's six key economic sectors during the third year of its Our Future is Wide Open awareness campaign.

Through a combination of investment missions, articles in trade publications, promotions aimed at Canadian embassies and targeted business and trade media advertising, the campaign will continue the message that Saskatchewan is a good place in which to live, work and do business.

"Our Future is Wide Open has positively affected attitudes toward Saskatchewan among many Canadian business people who make decisions about where to buy products and services and invest," Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline said. "In 2004-05, we will continue to promote Saskatchewan to potential buyers and investors in our key sectors within Canada and internationally."

Key components of the $1.4 million campaign include the following:

- A Saskatchewan supplement in the Globe and Mail, which ran May 4, profiling the province's technological achievements in its key sectors

- Advertising on national business and news specialty channels featuring a one-minute commercial profiling the excellence of Saskatchewan exports

- Signage promoting Saskatchewan quality of life and tourism in major Canadian airports, as well as in Minneapolis

- Continuation of Team Saskatchewan investment attraction and trade missions involving business, community and government leaders

- Sector-specific promotion in national and international industry publications

- Presence at sector-specific national and international trade shows

- Canadian trade officials contact program targeted at embassies and consulates in the U.S., Europe and Asia

"We have a great success story to tell, and we're doing just that," Cline said. "We need to get out and promote the many competitive advantages and opportunities our province has to offer. Other provinces, states and countries are aggressively marketing to attract investment and new business, and we need to, as well"

A KPMG 2004 study showed the business climate of Saskatchewan cities compares very favorably with cities of similar size. The Chartered Accountants of Saskatchewan said in their 2003 report that Saskatchewan's investment climate has seen major improvements in the past decade. The Conference Board of Canada also predicts strong growth for the province in 2004.

The Our Future is Wide Open campaign and related initiatives will communicate these competitive advantages to trade consulates, current and potential international investors, international trade show audiences, and influential business publications.

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For More Information, Contact:

Bob Ellis Industry and Resources Regina Phone: (306) 787-8277