Released on October 17, 1997
"Saskatchewan has had five years of sustained economic growth and the
world is lining up to invest in our province," Deputy Premier Dwain
Lingenfelter told participants in the Kansai-Canada West Business
Forum in Kobe, Japan today. The forum was attended by chambers of
commerce and business groups from throughout Western Canada and the
Kansai region of Japan which includes the four major cities of Osaka,
Kobe, Kyoto, and Nara.
"Business investment was up 18 per cent in 1996 and will grow again
this year," Lingenfelter said. "We welcome the participation of
investors from Japan in developing the resources with which we have
been blessed."
In addition to the plenary sessions, the Deputy Premier took part in
the Leader's Forum with Premier Filmon of Manitoba and Deputy Premier
Miller of British Columbia. They discussed measures to develop
relationships between the Kansai region and Western Canada.
The Saskatchewan trade mission concludes Saturday morning with a
visit to the Okamoto International Co. Ltd. construction site in
Sanda City.
Okamoto is a partner with Pan-Brick Inc. of Regina in the
manufacture of housing construction materials for the Japanese
market. Pan-Brick Okamoto Canada Ltd. established a Regina plant
in 1995 to make interlocking plywood insulation and clay brick
panels for housing projects in Japan. The Saskatchewan plant
employs 20 people.
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Anna Arneson
Media Services
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-0850