Released on November 18, 1998
Economic and Co-operative Development Minister Janice MacKinnon
leaves today on a trade mission to promote Saskatchewan's agricultural
biotechnology sector in Germany and Belgium.
"This mission will promote Saskatchewan's status as a world-class
centre of agricultural biotechnology," MacKinnon said, "as well as
exchange information on the latest research and development in two
countries which, like Canada, are experiencing dramatic growth in the
sector."
MacKinnon will also meet with officials from the European Economic
Union, headquartered in Brussels, to discuss trade regulations
affecting Saskatchewan exports.
Also participating in the mission are Ag-West Biotech Inc. of
Saskatoon, the National Research Council's Plant Biotechnology
Institute, the University of Saskatchewan's Crop Development Centre,
the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority, Saskatchewan
Agriculture and Food and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Saskatoon
Research Centre.
The delegation will visit the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding
in Cologne, the Chemistry Park at Knappsack, the KWS Group of
companies in Einbeck and the Astene Research Station in Belgium.
Meetings will also be held with AgrEvo and Plant Genetic Systems,
which already have major operations in Saskatchewan.
MacKinnon noted Saskatchewan is home to 30 per cent of Canada's
agricultural biotechnology industry, with $100 million in annual
sales by provincial companies and projected sales of $600 million
a year by 2005.
"Our industry expertise and such achievements as the world's
first genetically engineered crop and animal vaccines have
obviously made us very competitive in the global marketplace,"
she said. "This mission helps us to continue building our
European markets and relationships.
"With its innovation and value-added products, agricultural
biotechnology is very much a symbol of the industries and the
people that are shaping the future of a new Saskatchewan."
- 30 -
For more information, contact:
Dave Barr
Economic and Co-operative Development
Regina
Phone: (306)787-1691
Meeting participants
Canadian Embassy Bonn
À À Gaetan Lavertu, Canadian Ambassador to Germany;
À À Mr. Peer Steinbrck, Minister Medium and Small Business,
Technology and Transportation, Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia;
À À Dr. Schmucker, Member of the Board, Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH;
À À Dr. Edgar Fritschi, CEO, BioGenTech;
À À Dr. Gisbert Kley, CEO, Deutsche Saatveredelung;
À À Dr. Gerhard Prante, CEO, AgrEvo;
À À Dr. Ludolf-Georg von Wartenberg, CEO, BDI;
À À Dr. Wulff, Gesch„ftsleiter, Bayer AG, Crop Protection Centre;
City of Cologne
À À Mr. Blum , Vice-Mayor, City of Cologne, Germany;
À À Mr. Bell, Regional Councillor ("Landrat") the Erft;
À À Dr. Koen Dekker, Max Planck Institute;
À À Other German officials.
Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH
À À Dr. -Ing Bertold Schmucker, Board Member, Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH;
À À Volkhard Becker, Board Member, Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH;
À À Peter Kuhn, President, Thyssen Mining, Regina Saskatchewan;
À À John Schofield, Consul Dusseldorf office;
À À Other Thyssen Board Members (TBA).
BAYER AG (Crop Protection Center in Monheim)
À À Dr. Wulff, Business Director, Bayer AG;
Kleinwanzlebener Saatzucht AG /PLANTA GmbH (KWS)
À À Dr. Buchting, CEO Kleinwanzlebener Saatzucht AG /PLANTA GmbH
(KWS);
À À Mr. Bayes, Executive Board Member; Kleinwanzlebener Saatzucht AG
/PLANTA GmbH (KWS);
À À Dr. Andreas J. Bchting (R&D division), Kleinwanzlebener Saatzucht
AG /PLANTA GmbH (KWS);
À À Other members of the managing board and senior scientists,
Kleinwanzlebener Saatzucht AG /PLANTA GmbH (KWS);
Dr. Grote - Federal State of Lower Saxony, Deputy Minister of Economic
Development
AgrEvo/Plant Genetic Systems N.V. (Gent, Belgium)
À À Dr. Faust, Corporate Communications, AgrEvo;
À À Dr. Convent, Managing Director, AgrEvo;
À À Dr. Henk Joos, Director, Oilseeds, AgrEvo;
À À Dr. Rdelsheim, Director, Biotechnology Regulatory Affairs,
AgrEvo;
À À Dr. Cardoen, Head of Technology Acquisition, Biotechnology,
AgrEvo;
À À Dr. Prante, CEO, AgrEvo;
Mrs. Emma Bonino - Commissioner for Consumer Policy, European Economic Union
À À Mrs. Emma Bonino, Commissioner for Consumer Policy, European
Economic Union;
À À Victor Jarjour, Councellor-Agriculture.
Mr. Rasmus Kjeldahl - Member of Cabinet - Cabinet of Mrs. Ritt
Bjerregaard, Commissioner for Environment and Nuclear Safety,
European Economic Union
À À Mr. Rasmus Kjeldahl, Member of Cabinet - Cabinet of Mrs. Ritt
Bjerregaard, Commissioner for Environment and Nuclear Safety,
European Economic Union;
À À Victor Jarjour, Councellor-Agriculture, Canadian European Union
Mission.
Canadian Ambassador to the Canadian European Union Mission - Luncheon
Meeting - Brussels
À À Ambassador Jean-Pierre Juneau, Canadian European Union Mission;
À À Victor Jarjour, Councellor-Agriculture, Canadian European Union
Mission;
À À Madame Fauth Secretarire Generale, Betail de la C.E.E.;
À À Mr. Stocker, Director of Government Affairs Europe, Pioneer
Overseas Corporation;
À À Mr. Baker, Director, Monsanto;
À À Mr. Dobson, Director, AgrEvo;
À À Mr. Arke, Secretary General, EuropaBio;
À À Mr. Kaufmann, Director Novartis;
À À Mr. Cogels, Director General, FEDIOL.
Canadian Ambassador to Belgium
À À Ambassador Claude Laverdure, Canadian Ambassador to Belgium;
À À Dr. Dysseler, Directeur-Presidente, Institut Meurice;
À À Professor Kelen, Interface Universite-Societe;
À À Monsieur Viseur, Secretairie-general, Belgian Bioindustries
Association;
À À Monsieur Demaerei, Head of Corporate Finance, Corporate Investment
Banking;
À À Dr. Convent, Managing Director, AgrEvo
