Released on June 23, 2003
Team Saskatchewan is successfully promoting the province's progress and potential in biotechnology at the BIO 2003 Conference and Trade Show in Washington, D.C.Saskatchewan's role as "Biotech Central" was highlighted at an international press conference staged by Team Saskatchewan earlier today. This comes on the heels of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the state of Andhra Pradesh, Republic of India, on future co-operation in agricultural biotechnology.
BIO 2003 is the largest gathering of biotechnology expertise in the world, with more than 20,000 delegates. It gives Team Saskatchewan a chance to showcase the province's business climate and expertise in biotechnology to delegates from 52 different countries.
"We are opening a lot of eyes here," Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline said. "Business, scientific and government representatives from around the world will be going home with a new awareness of what our province offers as a place to invest, work and live."
Saskatchewan is a world leader in biotechnology and agricultural biotechnology, and its cities have some of the most competitive business environments within the G-7 countries. Saskatoon is now home to Canada's only Synchrotron and one of the most advanced research parks in North America – Innovation Place. "We are telling Bio 2003 delegates that Saskatchewan is a province with a wide open future, where biotechnology companies that didn't exist ten years ago are now marketing their expertise around the world," Cline said.
Roger Wyse, Managing Director, Burrill & Company, a life science merchant bank in California, was among the many people who visited Saskatchewan's booth at BIO 2003. He said Saskatchewan's image as a supportive place for innovative biotechnology companies was getting through. "One of our companies – Pyxis Genomics – is located in Saskatoon, so we have direct experience with Saskatchewan's environment for biotechnology," Wyse said. "Saskatchewan is doing a lot of things right in providing an attractive, nurturing climate for early-stage companies."
Peter McCann, President, Ag-West Biotech, is a Team Saskatchewan member. He said the MOU with Andhra Pradesh is a good example of what Saskatchewan can offer countries all over the world. "We have a province of one million people that is advanced in biotechnology now positioned to help a nation of one billion," McCann said. "In India, between 30-50 per cent of the crops grown never reach the consumer because of insects, disease, or rot and decay in the field. Saskatchewan can do a great deal to help overcome this, and the first step was taken today."
Team Saskatchewan members include business, academic, and government representatives specializing in biotechnology and agricultural biotechnology. Along with showcasing the province at BIO 2003, Team Saskatchewan has also met with representatives from the Government of Australia and the international pharmaceutical industry.
Please call Media Services to arrange phone interviews with Minister Cline in Washington.
-30-
For More Information, Contact:
| Bob Ellis Industry and Resources Regina Phone: (306)787-8277 |