Saskatchewan and France have signed a Letter of Intent on the development of supply chains for strategic minerals. The LOI was signed this morning at the Saskatchewan Research Council. Minister of Trade and Export Development, Jeremy Harrison says the province has a longstanding relationship with France through Orano and the uranium industry and now with strategic minerals.

The LOI will focus on the shared goal of improving supply chain security and sustainability, and research and development for critical minerals. French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness, Francophonie and French Nationals Abroad, Franck Riester, says, “This agreement with the Saskatchewan government is one of the first we have signed with a Canadian province, after the one signed with Quebec last November. That says a lot about the priority we attach to our relationship with Saskatchewan.”

A news release from the provincial government says Saskatchewan is home to 23 critical minerals, including uranium, potash, rare earth elements, helium, lithium, copper and more.