Saskatchewan

What Saskatchewan does

Saskatchewan Trade and Invest is the trade and investment promotion arm of the Government of Saskatchewan, Canada, operating as a Crown entity with approximately 70 employees headquartered in Regina and Saskatoon. The organization runs a network of nine international trade and investment offices embedded within Canadian embassies, consulates, and high commissions across Mexico (Mexico City), the United Kingdom (London), Germany (Berlin), the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), India (New Delhi), Singapore, Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City), China (Shanghai), and Japan (Tokyo). Its core function is to provide free, government-funded services to three primary constituencies: international investors seeking opportunities in Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan-based exporters needing market diversification support, and international buyers sourcing Saskatchewan products and partnerships.

The organization administers three flagship programs: the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) for attracting skilled workers and entrepreneurs, the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP), a member-driven non-profit linking suppliers to global markets, and the Saskatchewan Indigenous Investment Finance Corporation (SIIFC), established in 2022 with up to $75 million in government loan guarantees to support Indigenous equity ownership in major resource and agriculture projects. Additional programs include the Saskatchewan Technology Startup Incentive, Agtech Growth Fund (administered via Innovation Saskatchewan), and the Cultivator incubator powered by Conexus.

The go-to-market model is dual-channel: sales-led through personalized concierge pathfinding services for investors and connection facilitation between exporters and buyers, complemented by event-driven participation in international trade missions and exhibitions (Foodex Japan, PDAC, Eurosatory, Future Minerals Forum, Ag in Motion) and annual hosting of the Saskatchewan Aerospace and Defence Forum. Distribution is achieved through direct government-to-business engagement in nine international offices plus digital channels (YouTube, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and the investsk.ca website). The business model is fully government-funded with no commercial pricing; revenue is functionally nonexistent as services are provided free of charge, with organizational sustainability tied to provincial government budget cycles rather than market-based revenue.

Name

Saskatchewan

Legal name

Government of Saskatchewan

Website

https://thinksask.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Saskatchewan Trade and Invest is the Government of Saskatchewan's Crown-owned trade and investment promotion agency, employing approximately 70 people across Regina, Saskatoon, and 9 international offices to deliver free services connecting international investors, Saskatchewan exporters, and global buyers with provincial opportunities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Trade and Investment Promotion Services

NAICS

Miscellaneous Intermediation (52391)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade Finance, Export Credit & Risk Mitigation (BPADAMAG)

Keywords

• Trade promotion services
• Investment attraction
• Export facilitation
• Provincial economic development
• Foreign direct investment

Headquarters

HQ city

Regina

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Trade and Investment Promotion Services: Government-funded services provided free of charge to exporters, buyers, and investors. The organization is funded by the Government of Saskatchewan to promote economic development, market diversification, and investment attraction into the province.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Saskatchewan Trade and Invest is the Government of Saskatchewan's provincial trade and investment promotion organization that provides free services to exporters, buyers, and investors seeking to engage with the province. It operates a network of nine international trade and investment offices worldwide to deliver market diversification support, buyer-supplier connections, concierge pathfinding for investors, and partnership facilitation across key economic sectors including mining, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, forestry, and technology.

Product overview

Saskatchewan Trade and Invest operates as the provincial government's trade and investment promotion organization, offering a portfolio of programs and services to support economic development. Key offerings include the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) for attracting skilled workers and entrepreneurs, the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP) for export facilitation, and the Saskatchewan Indigenous Investment Finance Corporation (SIIFC) for Indigenous equity partnerships. The organization also provides an interactive Resource Map tool for exploring investment opportunities across the province's diverse natural resource sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) Provincial immigration program that attracts skilled workers and entrepreneurs, offering competitive processing times and assistance for federal permanent residency nominations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Saskatchewan ranks 3rd globally for mining investment attractiveness (Fraser Institute)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTEP is a member-driven, non-profit organization committed to increasing Saskatchewan's export activities. They link Saskatchewan suppliers with the global marketplace and work collaboratively with Saskatchewan Trade and Invest to support exporters.
• Saskatchewan Indigenous Investment Finance Corporation (SIIFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2022, SIIFC provides up to $75 million in loan guarantees to bolster Indigenous equity ownership in major projects in mining, energy, oil and gas, forestry, and value-added agriculture. Created by the Government of Saskatchewan to advance economic reconciliation.
• Westinghouse Electric CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestinghouse is building the eVinci microreactor for SRC's demonstration project in Saskatchewan. The microreactor is fully transportable, provides carbon-free electricity and heat, uses no water, and can be removed after operating for eight years. Expected to be operational by 2029.
• Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRC is leading the microreactor demonstration project with $80 million in government funding. Canada's second largest research and technology organization with nearly 350 employees and $232 million in annual revenue.
• KinéisstrategicTechnology or IntegrationFrench satellite operator created by the French space agency advancing IoT using LoRa networks and satellites. Partnership with Rivercity Innovations for cold chain monitoring solutions with no geographic limitations.
• Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the Saskatchewan Aerospace and Defence Forum alongside the Government of Saskatchewan, Prairies Economic Development Canada, and Saskatchewan Aviation Council.
• Prairies Economic Development CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government partner co-hosting the Saskatchewan Aerospace and Defence Forum.
• Saskatchewan Aviation CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association partner co-hosting the Saskatchewan Aerospace and Defence Forum.
• Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear InnovationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlaces Saskatchewan as a global leader in nuclear science and medicine. Part of the life sciences research cluster.
• Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks with diverse partners to discover, develop and deliver innovative solutions for global sustainable food production. Key player in Saskatchewan's agtech ecosystem.
• VIDO (Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible for several world firsts in animal vaccines and developing vaccines to protect humans from global diseases. Part of Saskatchewan's life sciences research cluster.
• Canadian Light SourcestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanada's only synchrotron and one of the most advanced in the world. Scientists from around the globe conduct research in nanotechnology, environmental technologies, and pharmaceuticals.
• Ag-West BiostrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelps move research to market and grow agri-food business in Saskatchewan. Key crop breeding centre for Western Canada and global breeding centre for canola.
• Innovation SaskatchewancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment organization supporting technology growth through programs like the Saskatchewan Technology Startup Incentive and Agtech Growth Fund.
• Cultivator powered by ConexusstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBusiness incubator and accelerator supporting Saskatchewan tech startups and entrepreneurs.
• Saskatchewan PolytechnicstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing Ground Truth Agriculture's AI technology through the Digital Integration Centre of Excellence (DICE).

Scale indicators25 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Invest Alberta Corporation: Alberta's provincial investment attraction and trade promotion agency. Directly comparable as a Canadian sub-national government entity promoting investment and trade, with overlapping sector focus on energy, agriculture, and resources.
• Invest Ontario: Ontario's provincial investment promotion agency. Direct peer as a Canadian sub-national Crown entity focused on attracting foreign direct investment and facilitating trade across multiple sectors including advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and technology.
• Trade and Invest British Columbia: British Columbia's international trade and investment office network. Direct peer as a Canadian sub-national government trade and investment promotion organization with international offices providing market entry services.
• Investissement Québec (IQ): Quebec's provincial investment and export promotion agency. Direct peer with similar mandate of attracting foreign investment and supporting exporters, operating internationally with comparable services including concierge pathfinding.
• Manitoba Trade and Investment: Manitoba's provincial trade and investment promotion arm. Closely comparable prairie province peer with similar resource-based economy (agriculture, mining, energy) and international market diversification mandate.

Broad incumbents

• UK Department for Business and Trade: UK government department promoting international trade and investment. Saskatchewan Trade and Invest coordinates with this counterpart via its London office for European market access and UK investor attraction.
• Canadian Trade Commissioner Service: Government of Canada's federal trade promotion service. Comparable in mandate but broader in scope, covering all provinces and serving as the federal counterpart that Saskatchewan Trade and Invest coordinates with on international market access.
• Enterprise Singapore: Singapore's government agency supporting business growth and investment promotion. Comparable as a government trade and investment promotion entity, though more established as a mature international business hub.

Regional players

• Scotland Development International: Scotland's national investment and trade promotion agency. Comparable as a sub-national economic development agency with international offices promoting trade and inward investment, though focused on a different geography.
• Western Australia Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation: Western Australia's investment and trade promotion arm. Highly comparable given both jurisdictions are resource-rich economies with significant mining, agriculture, and energy export profiles seeking to diversify investment sources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SKTradeInvest
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCS-sHNNrAF0oUZ1Tm8jjwQA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saskatchewan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saskatchewan