In July, Saskatchewan hosted two exciting missions organized by the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP) specifically targeting retail and commodity buyers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. These missions aim to showcase the immense potential and opportunities in the province's agricultural sector while fostering mutually beneficial partnerships between MENA companies and Saskatchewan's thriving agribusinesses.

Saskatchewan boasts an impressive 40 per cent of Canada's agricultural land, making it the most dominant player in the nation's food production industry. With its vast expanse of fertile soil, the province is well-positioned to meet the growing global demand for high-quality and sustainable agricultural products.

During the mission, a series of strategic business-to-business meetings were held to exchange knowledge, discuss market trends, and establish strong relationships to pave the way for long-term partnerships.

To further enhance understanding of Saskatchewan's agricultural sector, the program included immersive site visits to key agribusiness facilities across the province allowing MENA retail and commodity buyers to witness the advanced technologies, modern farming practices, and efficient supply chains that contribute to Saskatchewan's agricultural success.

The visits generated several leads and in-market deals, demonstrating the effectiveness of these missions in fostering meaningful connections and collaborations. The value of the MENA incoming buyers event was worth more than $250 million CAD.

A list of Saskatchewan suppliers can be found in STEP’s Membership Directory (sasktrade.com).

If you are interested in being part of future trade missions to Saskatchewan, please reach out to the Government of Saskatchewan’s UAE Office at UAE@gov.sk.ca.