Released on January 13, 1998
The Mexican province of Chiapas, in the south of the country, is
currently the centre of major unrest. Saskatchewan's Team Canada
delegation made a small contribution to a solution there today.
The Saskatchewan Indian Federated College signed an agreement with the
Universidad Autonoma de Chiapas. The two institutions will work
together to expand and improve Aboriginal education.
"Chiapas is a very dangerous place right now," said Dr. Eber Hampton,
President of the Federated College. "It's going to take a lot of
people of good will working together to improve the situation. What
we can work on is education."
Dr. Hampton said that Aboriginal people are the "poorest of the poor"
around the world - including in Chiapas, where they make up the
majority of the population. "One of the possible solutions is
education. It's not the whole solution, but it's important.
I believe we can help make a difference."
Premier Roy Romanow, who oversaw the signing today, said he was
pleased Saskatchewan was making a constructive contribution to the
plight of the people of Chiapas. "There are two ways we can help in a
situation like this," he said. "The first is government-to-government. The Team Canada delegation raised the issue of Chiapas
with the President of Mexico yesterday. The second is people-to-people, through initiatives like this agreement."
The memorandum of understanding will lead to a joint program in
international indigenous studies on the Chiapas campuses. The
project will strengthen the ability of the University in Chiapas
to recruit indigenous students and to provide them with a
relevant curriculum. It will be implemented in four years at a
value of $810,000. It is partially funded by the Canadian
International Development Agency.
Also signed today:
The University of Regina has signed a memorandum of understanding
with the Universidad Autonoma de Campeche to provide for the
exchange of students and faculty members. Under the terms of the
agreement, undergraduate and graduate students from each
university will travel to the other for study and faculty members
will work to develop areas for joint research and scholarship.
The two universities are members of a tripartite partnership
working in the area of ecotourism.
The University of Regina has also signed an agreement with
Universidad Panamerica of Mexico City extending by five years an
existing memorandum of understanding which provides for the
exchange of students and faculty in all disciplines. Primary
areas have been in business studies and in the study of English
as a second language and in Spanish as a second language.
Massload technologies of Saskatoon has signed a contract with
Identification Pesaje y Control S.A. De C.V. of Mexico for the
supply of electronic loadcells used in industrial weighing.
"This contract is worth approximately $200,000," Bill Elliott,
president of Massload Technologies, said today. "We expect that
the size of the project could double after one year. We are also
discussing future joint venture manufacturing projects."
Massload and its 30 employees manufacture a full line of
electronic weighing equipment for industrial and agricultural
applications, including use in truck scales.
Peter McCann, president of Saskatoon-based Ag-West Biotech Inc.,
met with Mexican government officials and research scientists
yesterday. "As much as seventy per cent of Mexican agriculture
is basically subsistence farming," he said. "Mexico has an
ambitious plan to develop its agriculture industry and they see a
significant role for ag-biotech."
Ag-West Biotech is now working to arrange return visits of
Mexican scientists and officials to demonstrate its capacities.
The Canadian Embassy has been asked to work with local
consultants to put together a Mexican biotech delegation to
attend AIBC 98, a major international biotechnology conference
scheduled for Saskatoon later this year.
Much of the prospecting work for Saskatchewan business in Mexico
is being co-ordinated by the Saskatchewan Trade and Export
Partnership (STEP). "Our partnership approach to trade
development is starting to pay off," said Anne Rose, president
and CEO of STEP.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Julianne Jack
Media Services
Regina
Phone: (306)787-6349
