Food, Fuel and Fertilizer Summit focuses on success of Sask. companies abroad

Leaders were in Regina for the Food, Fuel and Energy Summit, emphasizing market diversification and Sask. expanding international reach. Jacob Car reports.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe delivered the keynote address at the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Food, Fuel, Fertilizer Global Summit in Regina on Tuesday.

This year’s focus is on the importance of market diversification, and how Saskatchewan companies are taking advantage of evolving opportunities and seeing success abroad.

“Saskatchewan is the best place in the world to do business,” Moe said. “Countries across the globe are realizing our province’s ability to supply the food and energy security they need. As an export-based province, one of the best ways we can safeguard our economy is to leverage our long-standing international relationships and diversify our export markets.”

“Our government has already seen major success in China, Brazil and India, and we are ready to stand up even taller to protect all Saskatchewan people.”

In 2025, the province’s exports reached more than 160 countries.

Saskatoon-based Cameco, one of the largest global producers of uranium fuel, is a Saskatchewan energy company that is seeing success.

Tim Getzel, Cameco’s president and CEO, said there’s currently a global push to build nuclear reactors, including in India.

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“They have eight gigawatts, it’s like eight large reactors, eight gigawatts equivalent of nuclear power. They want 100 by 2047. So that’s the growth we are seeing in our industry, so we’re living in a different movie these days,” he said.

Uranium was not the only kind of fuel discussed at the summit.

Saskatchewan NDP MLA Trent Wotherspoon is still concerned about gas prices at the pump in the province.

“We’re continuing to press this government to do the right thing and to pass along some relief at the pumps to Saskatchewan families, farms and businesses that are facing extraordinary cost right now,” he said.

The Canadian government’s temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax has decreased gas prices by 10 cents.

However, Moe says the provincial government has more permanent tax relief in mind.

“The approach that we have taken, and we have answered this many times, is for us to move in the way of a much more permanent and long term and sustainable tax reductions for Saskatchewan families, year in and year out.”

As for the growth that Saskatchewan’s private investment has seen, the provincial government says there was an increase last year of 12 per cent to $13.6 billion.

That increase ranked Saskatchewan first among provinces.