Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall is heading to India next month to drum up more business.
A Nov. 15-23 trade mission will focus on the province’s agricultural and energy sectors. This is his second trip to India in three years.
“It’s a good chance to say thank you,” he told reporters about why it is important to travel there rather than conduct business from afar.
India is now the province’s fourth largest trading partner. Exports of pulses and potash dominated the $1 billion worth of products that were sold to India last year.
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Canada and India signed a nuclear co-operation agreement since that first trip, which offers opportunities for Saskatchewan uranium.
The upcoming trip includes a government delegation of seven and is expected to cost $120,000.
Wall will help open the Canadian pavilion at Agro Tech 2014 in Chandigarh and speak to 400 farmers in Muzaffarnagar about potash.
“The Indian market for potash has presented certain challenges for Sask-atchewan potash of late, but now some very good prospects are occurring,” he said.
Canpotex has asked for government support because most purchases in India are made by government agencies and require a government-to-government relationship, Wall said.
Saskatchewan’s exports to India have increased 69 percent since 2007, while imports were $40 million last year, up 244 percent from 2007.
Topping the list of exports last year were peas at $355 million, lentils at $335 million and potash at $304.5 million. These have consistently been the top three exports since 2005.
