WINNIPEG, Canada (Sept. 17, 2018) — Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler and members of the Indiana agricultural delegation met with officials from Canada’s Manitoba Province today to discuss opportunities to grow both regions’ agricultural sectors.
This photo is of Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch signing the memorandum of understanding and includes (from left to right) Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler, Lt. Gov. Crouch, Manitoba Minister of Agriculture Ralph Eichler, and Manitoba Deputy Premier and Minister of Families Heather Stefanson.
Through a signed memorandum of understanding (MOU), the Indiana and Manitoba departments of agriculture agreed to facilitate cooperation in several areas including agricultural research and development, youth education and leadership, and trade investment – all for the purpose of mutual economic growth.
“This agreement lays the groundwork to establishing a long-term cooperative relationship between Indiana and Manitoba,” Crouch said. “We look forward to the abundant opportunities this new partnership affords, especially in the area of agricultural economic development, and are excited about what the future holds for our two economies.”
The agricultural sector has been a key driver of trade and economic growth in both Manitoba and Indiana. Through the MOU, the two regions will encourage stronger partnerships between researchers, innovation leaders, businesses, and young farmers, and will share information and best practices to help each jurisdiction make the most of new opportunities to drive growth and innovation in agriculture and related sectors.
“Indiana and Manitoba share common priorities and strengths in the agricultural sector that provide excellent opportunities for more collaboration and information sharing,” said Ralph Eichler, Manitoba’s Minister of Agriculture.
In addition to the ceremony, the Indiana delegation met with Manitoba’s Deputy Premier Heather Stefanson, Minister of Growth, Enterprise and Trade Blaine Pedersen and Minister Eichler, and discussed the broader Manitoba-Indiana trade relationship, which encompassed two-way trade worth $1.1 billion in 2017, an increase of almost 36 percent since 2013. Indiana is Manitoba’s seventh-largest trading partner in the U.S. and nearly 190,000 jobs in Indiana depend on trade and investment with Canada.
Over the next couple of days, the delegation will be participating in business round tables with the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and the Business Council of Manitoba, as well as focused visits and meetings with leading Manitoba agricultural facilities, including the Food Development Centre, the University of Manitoba, the Canadian International Grain Institute, and the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre.
For updates on the Indiana agricultural economic development trip to Manitoba, follow the Indiana State Department of Agriculture at @ISDAgov. To read the full memorandum of understanding, please click here.