Released on May 24, 2000
A Saskatchewan organization is taking a big step toward opening up new exportmarkets in Europe for agricultural equipment manufacturers.
Natural Resources Minister Ralph Goodale and Saskatchewan Economic and Co-
operative Development Minister Janice MacKinnon today announced $331,175 in
funding under the Canada-Saskatchewan Western Economic Partnership Agreement
(WEPA) to Western Canada Testing Inc. (WESTEST). The funding allows the non-
profit organization to develop an export coaching and testing service to help
agricultural equipment manufacturers across western Canada meet stringent
European Union import requirements for machinery.
The project consists of three elements: a technical coaching service during
which WESTEST engineers will provide advice to Canadian manufacturers on
European import requirements; the establishment of a lab and testing facility;
and the creation of partnership agreements with European testing organizations
to assist equipment manufacturers in demonstrating that they have met European
standards.
Specific services provided by the WESTEST facility include machine compliance
inspections; machine design for regulatory compliance; and assistance with the
development of conformity documentation, including required declarations and
technical files. Upon completion of the WEPA project, the coaching and testing
service will operate on a fee-for-service basis.
"The Government of Canada is pleased to be a part of a project to assist with
exporting and marketing initiatives through WEPA," Minister Goodale said on
behalf of Secretary of State for Western Economic Diversification Ron J.
Duhamel. "This project responds to needs identified by the industry to give
itself a competitive edge and increase sales to the European Union. At the
same time the industry will be providing more employment opportunities and
economic spin-offs for the local economy."
"Saskatchewan is known for its innovative agricultural equipment industry and
our top quality farm equipment can be found hard at work all over the world,"
MacKinnon said. "Enhanced access to the European market means more jobs for
Saskatchewan people and this project will help our companies take full
advantage of new opportunities in Europe."
"At a grass roots level, we really want to help prairie manufacturers find ways
over, around and through trade obstacles by helping them interpret what
compliance standards mean, how they affect their product lines and identify
what, if any, testing needs to be done to get their products approved for
export," WESTEST Project Manager Troy Lucyshyn said.
The Prairie Implement Manufacturers Association values the agriculture
implement manufacturing industry in Western Canada at $2 billion. In 1998, an
estimated $500 million was derived from export sales.
WESTEST estimates that, in the next 10 years, the WEPA project could create
more than 1,100 person years of employment in the agriculture implement
manufacturing sector and increase sales to European Union countries by $44
million.
From 1998 to 2002, the Canada/Saskatchewan WEPA, administered by Western
Economic Diversification Canada and Saskatchewan Economic and Co-operative
Development, will direct $40 million toward initiatives that support new
economic infrastructure, tourism products, export and marketing initiatives and
new economic opportunities, including rural and northern economic development.
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For more information, contact:
Joanne Mysak
Manager, Consultations, Marketing and Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
(306) 975-5942
WD Toll-Free No.: 1-888-338-WEST (9378)
WD World Wide Web site:
English - http://www.wd.gc.ca
French - http://www.deo.gc.ca
Bob Ellis
Manager, Corporate Affairs
Saskatchewan Economic and Co-operative Development
Regina, Saskatchewan
(306) 787-1691
Troy Lucyshyn, P.Eng.
Manager, Applied Technologies Group
Western Canada Testing Inc.(WESTEST)
Humboldt, Saskatchewan
(306) 682-2442
World Wide Web site:
http://www.westest.ca