Premier Brad Wall heading to Asia

REGINA – Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is heading for the Philippines, Japan and Singapore to try to boost business and get workers.

Wall leaves Sunday on a nine-day mission that includes meetings with companies interested in investing in Saskatchewan, including Mitsubishi and Hitachi.

The region is becoming increasingly important to Saskatchewan – for example, more than $1 billion worth of Saskatchewan products were sent to Japan in each of the last two years.

The premier also notes that more than 10,000 Filipinos have moved to Saskatchewan over the last three years.

Although some Filipinos who met with Wall at the legislature on Wednesday expressed concern that they can’t work in their trained professions and are relegated to the service industry.

The premier says it might be time to look at recognizing other professional designations to help people move into those jobs.

Wall will also meet with Philippine Labour Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and sign a renewed agreement on labour migration.

The visit is timed to coincide with a labour recruitment mission organized by Saskatchewan’s Ministry of the Economy. The recruitment mission includes eight Saskatchewan companies who are offering 150 highly skilled jobs in the province.