Released on June 4, 2015
Government Issues Formal Response to Council’s Final ReportSaskatchewan’s efforts to increase trade in growing Asian markets will be guided by the recommendations of the province’s Asia Advisory Council, Premier Brad Wall said today.
“I want to thank council members for the advice they have provided,” Wall said. “Asia offers unprecedented opportunities for Saskatchewan and the rest of Canada. We are eager to expand our reach in vital Asian markets and the recommendations offered by the council will guide our efforts for years to come.”
The Government of Saskatchewan today issued a formal response to the Saskatchewan-Asia Advisory Council’s final report, which was received by the government on September 30, 2014.
The report contains 45 recommendations on increasing Saskatchewan’s presence in Asian markets, facilitating more investment by Asian companies in the province, encouraging more Saskatchewan students to study, live and gain work experience overseas, and making the province the most welcoming jurisdiction in Canada for immigrants and international students.
Wall provided the government’s response in a letter to the council which summarized the government’s analysis of the recommendations and action taken to date.
In 2014, Saskatchewan’s trade with Asia hit an all-time high, with $7 billion worth of exports. Among the provinces, Saskatchewan was the leading exporter to India ($1.2 billion), Indonesia ($693 million), Bangladesh ($413 million) and Malaysia ($247 million).
“We want to build on that momentum and the advice proffered by the council will help us to do that,” Wall said. “The report has provided impetus for new activity on the Asia file, and is serving as a touchstone for our longer-term policy and program decisions.”
The premier said some of the council’s recommendations will require a longer time frame to be implemented, but he said the government is already moving in several areas to strengthen Asian engagement.
Actions undertaken, or currently underway, by the government include:
- The premier’s November 2014 mission to India to strengthen relations with the new Government of India, promote Indian investment in Saskatchewan, and advance the province’s agricultural and energy interests in India;
- Related advocacy on behalf of the province’s uranium industry on this mission and an earlier visit – advocacy that contributed to the historic signing of a $350 million uranium supply contract between Cameco and India’s Department of Atomic Energy that will see 7.1 million pounds of uranium concentrate shipped from Saskatchewan to India through 2020;
- Hosting last November’s New West Partnership (NWP) Transportation Infrastructure Summit with its focus on getting goods to Asian markets, and the resulting call by NWP premiers for the federal government to contribute $1.5 billion to support and enhance essential port and transportation infrastructure;
- Direct engagement with the federal government on its free trade negotiations, especially those involving the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks;
- Establishment of a high-level International Education Council; and
- Changes to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program in March 2015 which include the consolidation of five streams into two streams – the entrepreneur stream and the farm owner/operator stream with new eligibility requirements.
- Collaborating with post-secondary institutions and other partners to develop and implement recommendations to increase the study of Asian languages;
- Working to ensure that support is available by December 2015 to public service employees that require Asian language programming;
- Developing new language training pilot programs to help immigrants reach their potential in the labour market; and
- Developing a SaskJobs international website to better assist immigrant job seekers in finding employment in the province.
For more information, contact:
Kathy Young
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0425
Email: kathy.young@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-526-8927