UPSHALL PURSUES TRADE OPPORTUNITIES IN HONG KONG

Released on April 19, 1996

Agriculture and Food Minister Eric Upshall is in Hong Kong today
pursuing trade opportunities for the Saskatchewan elk farming and
potash industries.

"Hong Kong is one of the world's largest trading economies," Upshall
said. "Its ideal geographic location in the Pacific Rim, excellent
natural harbour, industrious population and free market policies all
contribute to its role as a regional business capital. Hong Kong is
also the principal gateway to China, one of Saskatchewan's most
important export markets."

Upshall met with representatives from one of the Asia Pacific's largest
and most important pharmaceutical companies, Tung Fong Hung, to discuss
opportunities for the production and processing of elk antler velvet in
Saskatchewan. Currently, Saskatchewan does not have a processing
facility.

"Tung Fong Hung has expressed an interest in establishing its own
production and processing enterprise for velvet in Canada so I met with
the company's executive director, Mr. S. H. Chow, to invite him to
visit Saskatchewan to take a closer look at our province's elk industry
and to see for himself why his company should consider investing in
Saskatchewan.

"This value-added industry is growing at a rapid pace and tremendous
opportunities exist for Saskatchewan elk producers to export both raw
and semi-processed products into the Asia-Pacific region.

"In 1987 there were only 22 elk farmers producing antler velvet. The
number has now increased to more than 180. Last year, these
enterprising producers generated approximately 10 tonnes of antler
velvet worth more than $2 million."

Upshall also met with the managing director of Canpotex's Hong Kong
office, Howard Cummer. Canpotex is the exclusive offshore marketing
company for the Saskatchewan potash industry, and is the world's
largest exporter of potash, outselling the nearest competitor by a
margin of almost three to one.

"Canpotex is by far China's largest supplier of potash," Upshall said.
"Saskatchewan has built a reputation for providing the highest
concentration of high quality potash in the world.

"I met with Canpotex representatives in Hong Kong to discuss
opportunities for facilitating the use of balanced fertilizer products
in China. Given Saskatchewan's reputation for supplying high-quality
products and our almost unlimited supply of potash, it is important
that we work very closely with Canpotex to aggressively pursue new
export opportunities."

Upshall leaves today for Taiwan, where he will meet with a number of
businesses considering increasing their imports of Saskatchewan pork,
canola meal, livestock genetics, and other products such as organically
produced seed. Upshall has also been asked to deliver a speech on
agricultural biotechnology in Taipei on April 22.

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For more information, contact:

Dave Burdeniuk
Media Services
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-6349