Released on February 18, 2020
Agriculture Minister David Marit recently returned from a successful trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh and India. This was Marit’s first visit to the three countries to speak about market development and exporting agri-food products.
“Saskatchewan’s Plan for Growth 2030 has ambitious but achievable targets for agriculture, especially for our crops sector,” Marit said. “At the heart of these targets is market access. India, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates will play a big role in our global trade plans over the next decade.”
The United Arab Emirates is an important market for Saskatchewan canola and pulses. While there, Marit met with and toured the facilities of the largest importer and processor of canola seed in the Middle East. In addition, Marit met with a major pulse importer in the United Arab Emirates, where he spoke about the opportunities to increase Saskatchewan’s pulse exports into the region.
While travelling in Dhaka, Marit highlighted Saskatchewan as a reliable and quality supplier of food and feed ingredients. Marit met with key wheat importers and millers, as Bangladesh is a large and growing wheat market for Saskatchewan. Marit also met with senior Bangladeshi government ministers and officials to discuss emerging market opportunities for our agricultural products.
Marit was also able to attend the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing by the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan with research partners from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Agriculture. This MOU solidified a research and training development partnership between GIFS and officials in Bangladesh.
Marit concluded his tour in Mumbai, India, by taking part in the fifth biannual Pulses Conclave in Lonavala. With more than 500 delegates in attendance from all major pulse-producing countries in the world, the conference provided a forum to meet with key pulse importers and discuss opportunities and barriers in the pulse export market.
As part of the Growth Plan, the Government of Saskatchewan committed to opening a new international trade and investment office in India.
Marit’s mission focused on strengthening trade relationships and finding new market opportunities for Saskatchewan agriculture products.
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For more information, contact:
Charlotte McGraw
Agriculture
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4031
Email: charlotte.mcgraw@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-7833