Prairie experts will share the finer points of beef and forage production with Ukrainian farmers.
Representatives from the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership joined Saskatchewan economic and co-operative development minister Janice MacKinnon and prairie businesspeople on a trade mission to Ukraine, Bulgaria, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan Nov. 8-19.
Murad Al-Katib, manager of financing services for the trade partnership, said the $5.5 million dollar beef and forage project will teach livestock producers in Ukraine how the business is done in Canada.
“We’ll be showing them a system of production using Canadian tactics,” he said.
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“The provinces will supply genetics, equipment, seed and services from consultants.”
Al-Katib said Ukrainian farmers are just starting to learn they can make money from beef and forage ventures, and need to be taught about farm business management.
“We’ll talk about seed cleaning techniques, machinery and help them understand you have to do things in a professional manner. We’ll teach them about how to use the technology and the benefits of it.”
Al-Katib said businesspeople will be doing more than sharing knowledge. They will also gain market opportunities in Ukraine, which could create more jobs for the province.
Several Saskatchewan agriculture businesses from Saskatoon, Regina, Yorkton, and Kinistino sent representatives on the trip.
Bernard Stephaniuk owns Aginukraine.com, an e-commerce business based in Yorkton that helps Canadian agricultural companies interested in doing business in Ukraine. He said he plans to meet with business associates and make new contacts while on the trip.
“Any contact that you make enhances your business,” he said.
Signing deals
Other representatives from mining, agriculture, tourism, and education will meet with senior business and government officials in various countries on the trip, signing contracts that have been in the works for years. MacKinnon said the purpose of the trip is to reaffirm these partnerships and speak to people at the top of the industrial ladder.
“This is very familiar territory,” she said.
“Now we’re going to gain higher level access to government decision makers.”
MacKinnon said the trip is important to Saskatchewan.
“Ours is an export-based economy. Every time one of these companies has a new deal, it’s good for the province.
“We need to take any opportunity we have to sell beyond conventional methods.”
MacKinnon said the travelers plan to report back to Canada during the course of the trip as deals are made and contracts are signed.
