WALL DISCUSSES ASIA MISSION WITH SASKATCHEWAN FILIPINO LEADERS

Released on September 25, 2013

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall today met with Filipino leaders from across Saskatchewan, to discuss his upcoming visit to the Philippines, Japan and Singapore.

“Asia will continue to grow in importance for Saskatchewan in the coming years, and as we highlighted in our Growth Plan, our sustained prosperity depends on making sure we are known there and are developing good relationships in these countries,” Wall said.  “A circle drawn on a map centred on south east Asia and spilling over into China would cover only a fraction of the globe.  However, more people live within that circle than on the rest of the planet.”

Members of Saskatchewan’s Philippine community say they’re excited about the growing ties between the two jurisdictions.

“We’re very happy to call Saskatchewan our home,” Filipino Association of Swift Current and Area President Emilio Completo said.  “Even though we miss our country, being able to work in Saskatchewan still gives us a chance to help our families back home.”

While in the Philippines, Premier Wall will meet with Vice President Jejomar C. Binay.  During today’s meeting with Saskatchewan Filipino leaders, Wall showed the gift the people of Saskatchewan will be giving to Vice President Binay.

Wall will also meet with Philippine Labour Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, and sign a renewed agreement on labour migration.  Wall’s visit is also timed to coincide with a focused labour recruitment mission, organized by Saskatchewan’s Ministry of the Economy.  The recruitment mission includes eight Saskatchewan companies who are offering 150 highly-skilled jobs in our province.

While in the region, Premier Wall also visits Tokyo and Hiroshima.  Events include:

• A ceremonial role in the launching of Canpotex’s new potash cargo ship, MV Ultra Regina;
• The keynote address to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan; and
• Meetings with companies that currently have or are expressing an interest in investing in Saskatchewan, including Mitsubishi and Hitachi.

Japan is a billion-dollar export market for Saskatchewan.  In each of the last two years, over one billion dollars worth of Saskatchewan products were sent to the country.

Wall’s Asia mission concludes with him giving the opening keynote remarks at the Canada-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Business Forum in Singapore.  Following the speech, the Premier will meet with the heads of Temasek Holdings and the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, two of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds.  This second visit also reflects the important role Singapore plays in the Asian economy.  More than 65 per cent of the Fortune Global 500 companies have major offices in the city.

The countries making up the ASEAN have strong ties to Saskatchewan.  Last year, our province accounted for 29 per cent of Canada’s exports to the ASEAN region, $1.44 billion.  ASEAN is Saskatchewan’s third largest export market.

While on this trip, Premier Wall is scheduled to meet with a total of 11 companies to encourage their investment in Saskatchewan.  Among these are some that have already invested in the province and some major investment firms that would be new to Saskatchewan - including Temasek, the Singapore-based investment fund worth $175 billion.

Premier Wall’s Asia Mission departs September 29 and returns October 10.

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For more information, contact:

Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425
Email: kathy.young@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-8927