MISSION TO FRANCE FOCUSES ON VALUE ADDED RESOUCE DEVELOPMENT

Premier Lorne Calvert and Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline head to France today to promote value added resource development in the province and to strengthen research and development links between France and Saskatchewan.

The June 23rd-29th mission includes meetings with the International Energy Agency, which sponsors the world-class enhanced oil recovery/carbon storage project in Weyburn; TOTAL, one of the world's largest oil and gas companies with investment interests in Canada; and AREVA Group, one of the two largest uranium-producing companies in the world with significant investment in Saskatchewan's uranium mines.

"Our vision for Saskatchewan is to expand on this province's natural strengths. Oil and uranium are key natural resources for us and the global demand for both is growing," Calvert said. "Now is the time for Saskatchewan to look for strong international partners to work with us to develop those resources further and to add as much value as possible to them here in the province."

Like Saskatchewan, France has a global reputation in key areas of scientific research and technology like energy, life sciences and the environment. Calvert will promote enhanced collaboration in meetings with AREVA, the national Minister of Industry, the SOLEIL Synchrotron facility and Europe's leading agricultural research institute, INRA. Cline will also meet with government officials from the Cherbourg/La Hague region, where AREVA's value-added uranium facilities have been part of the region's economy for decades.

The mission also includes meetings with BNP Paribas, which specializes in financing energy investments; the OECD's Nuclear Energy Agency to discuss uranium exploration technologies; and a group of French Parliamentarians from the European Parliament and the National Assembly with an interest in agricultural and rural development issues.

Calvert, Cline and SaskTel president Robert Watson will meet with Alcatel, a world-leader in the telecom sector, regarding a Memorandum of Understanding to advance the prospects of a joint venture here in Saskatchewan.

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For More Information, Contact:

Bob Ellis Industry and Resources Regina Phone: (306) 787-1691