TEAM SASKATCHEWAN EXPLORING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES DOWN UNDER

Released on July 31, 2006

Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline is leading a Team Saskatchewan mission to Australia on August 1st - 11th to promote the province's world-class agricultural biotechnology sector, as well as its natural resource strength and agricultural machinery production.

The highlight of the mission will be the Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC) in Melbourne on August 6th - 9th. ABIC is hosting exhibitors and participants from around the world who represent the most advanced biotechnology science in agriculture production and industrial plant uses. International leaders in business, science, patient advocacy, bioethics, education, government and the media will discuss the latest innovations and issues.

"This is a unique opportunity for us to take a firsthand look at the opportunities in the Australian and world market for Saskatchewan's strong ag-biotech sector, and take steps toward capitalizing on these opportunities," Industry and Resources Minister Eric Cline said. "We will be showing representatives of the global industry that we are serious about doing business with them through our own rapidly growing biotechnology industry, which has a record of proven success."

Saskatchewan possesses a world-class ag biotech industry cluster with a global reputation for innovation and which represents 30 per cent of the Canadian industry. Its state-of-the-industry research facilities are renowned for breakthrough discoveries, as well as the ability to market them.

Ag-West Bio, the secretariat for the ABIC Foundation, will also be attending the conference in Australia. "Ag-West Bio is extremely proud of the success of the ABIC conference series," ABIC Board chairman and Ag-West Bio president and CEO Dr. Ashley O'Sullivan said. "Since its inception in Saskatoon in 1996, the event has grown to become one of the world's premier conferences on agricultural biotechnology. ABIC is a great opportunity to tell an international audience about Saskatchewan's dynamic research and business community and the province's thriving bio-economy."

Members of the Team Saskatchewan mission are also making stops in Canberra and Sydney to talk to investors such as the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association with respect to Saskatchewan's resource and bio-environmental sectors. They will also be in Cowra for meetings with agriculture machinery companies such as Beulah Enterprises, and in Auckland, New Zealand for discussions with the business community there, including the Canada-New Zealand Business Association.

Representatives on Team Saskatchewan include a delegation of sector leaders from the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership, the National Research Council's Plant Biotechnology Institute (NRC-PBI), the University of Saskatchewan and Genome Prairie.

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For More Information, Contact:

Joanne Johnson Industry and Resources Regina Phone: (306) 787-1691 Email: jjohnson@ir.gov.sk.ca