A growing economy also requires solid infrastructure. In Canada generally and especially in Saskatchewan, where we rely so heavily upon trade, transportation is vital. One out of every 3 jobs in Saskatchewan depends upon trade. For this reason, in partnership with industry, we established the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership, Canada's first partnership between industry and government to promote trade. Finding and expanding markets is critical to our growth in the next century.
Innovation is also important as it is essential to capturing and keeping markets.
Saskatchewan has made a significant investment in research and development, especially in areas like agricultural biotechnology. We are now seeing what we think is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the return on this kind of investment. Its potential benefits to the biotechnology sector are enormous. Strategic investment has certainly been the key to success in agricultural biotechnology and research and development. We take this same strategic approach in managing our finances and in our role in the economy overall.