Saskatchewan government strengthens economic ties with Japan

Saskatchewan is working towards a stronger economic relationship with Japan.

On Monday, the province signed a memorandum of co-operation with the head of the Japan Overseas Infrastructure Corporation (JOIN).

According to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Trade and Export Development, the agreement encourages collaboration and support on infrastructure investment “with a focus on sector priorities that include helium development.”

The agreement also offers an opportunity for Saskatchewan to showcase its leadership in sustainable mining, the ministry added.

Tatsuhiko Takesada, JOIN’s president, said his organization was pleased to partner with Saskatchewan.

Jeremy Harrison, Saskatchewan’s minister of trade and export development. (650 CKOM file photo)

“We look forward to further strengthening our partnership with Saskatchewan and working together to encourage Japanese companies to participate in investment opportunities related to transport and urban development infrastructure projects in Saskatchewan from the upstream stage,” Takesada said in a statement.

Japan is one of Saskatchewan’s major export markets, with over $1.2 billion in goods — largely agri-food products — exported to the country in 2022. Saskatchewan has had a trade office in Japan since 2021, and Jeremy Harrison, Saskatchewan’s trade and export development minister, said the new agreement will help strengthen that relationship.

“We have key resources that the world needs, and this is proof that international investors are interested in what we have to offer. The more investments made in our province, the more jobs and economic growth we can look forward to,” Harrison said in a statement.