Saskatchewan manufacturing sector looking good, says council director
by The Canadian Press
The executive director of the Saskatchewan Manufacturing Council says the sector has seen 131 per cent growth since 2000
SASKATOON—An industry leader says Saskatchewan’s manufacturing sector had challenges last year but overall has seen a lot of prosperity.
Derek Lothian, executive director of the Saskatchewan Manufacturing Council, says since the year 2000, there has been 131 per cent growth in the province compared to 11 per cent nationally.
Lothian says most people think of agriculture and mining as the economic drivers in the province, but he says manufacturing is a significant sector as well.
He lists agricultural implements and mining and industrial supplies as the ones that most people might think about, but there are others.
They include road weighing systems that are sold internationally, satellite communications equipment, high-end military components, drone manufacturing, food products and plastics.
Lothian says while there was a downturn last year, in 2014, manufacturing had about $16 billion in annual sales in Saskatchewan and employed more people than mining and forestry combined.
