Moe set to embark on trade mission to United Arab Emirates

Premier Scott Moe is heading to the Middle East.

He’s to leave this weekend on a trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, where he’ll promote the province’s natural resources and agriculture and agri-value sectors. The visit is slated to end May 11.

“As a major trading hub to the Middle East and North Africa for Saskatchewan exports, the UAE is a critically important trading partner for our province and we look forward to making this relationship stronger than ever,” Moe said in a media release.

“As a producer of some of the most sustainable agriculture, energy and mining products anywhere in the world, Saskatchewan has a lot to offer.”

Saskatchewan opened a trade office in Dubai in January.

The province already is Canada’s largest exporter of agri-foods to the UAE. Last year, the total value of Saskatchewan’s exports to the UAE was $636 million and the province was the UAE’s largest supplier of canola seed and lentils.

Moe is to speak at the world’s largest pulse industry event, the Global Pulse Confederation. He’s to be joined there by representatives of Protein Industries Canada, Global Institute for Food Security, importers of Saskatchewan agri-food products and research institutions.

He’s also slated to discuss the province’s work in sustainable practices like carbon capture, utilization and storage at a number of meetings during his visit.