Saskatchewan sending trade delegation to Vietnam

A trade delegation from Saskatchewan is headed to Vietnam in hopes of expanding economic partnerships.

The delegation led by Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison left Thursday and is to return Dec. 16.

“Our goal is to strengthen our ties with Vietnam, and showcase the benefits of our agriculture commodities, natural resources and innovation,” Harrison said in a media release.

“An example of Saskatchewan’s commitment to strengthening those ties is our recently opened trade and investment office in Ho Chi Minh City. As we move forward, we are always seeking to diversify our exports into markets outside of China.”

The Saskatchewan government opened its trade office in Vietnam in February. According to the government, it has produced a 50 per cent increase in year-to-date exports from the province to Vietnam, to $91.7 million.

The government said the increase is being driven by more exports of potash, wood pulp, canola oil, lentils and weighing machinery.

The mission also will discuss things like carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies, small modular reactor research and development, sustainable mining and rare earth elements.

As well, the delegation is expected to promote Saskatchewan as a location for immigration for workers and students. Post-secondary institutions in the province have 19 agreements with their counterparts in Vietnam, and 248 international students from that country are studying in Saskatchewan.