I'm very happy to inform you that Bangladesh has very good relations with the province of Saskatchewan. The largest Canadian exports are from your province. Saskatchewan is the leading food exporter in Canada, and Bangladesh is one of the province's top 10 markets in the world with 2020 exports to the country alone valued at $650 million U.S., and for 2022 it's already, I think, the same, at $650 million U.S.
About 200 Bangladeshi Canadians live in Saskatoon West and they talk about it to their extended family members and neighbours in Bangladesh who want to come to Canada to study at U Sask. Bangladesh and Saskatchewan have robust economies. Saskatchewan can bring talent from Bangladesh and they can contribute to the Canadian economy and trade.
I know one person, Mr. Hasan Hamid, who studied [Technical difficulty—Editor] and is now working in the Global Institute for Food Security, GIFS. He was the bridge to concluding an MOU between GIFS and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council for research collaboration. We are working in five thematic areas. This kind of person, if they have the opportunity to come to study, not only in Saskatchewan but also in other western provinces—and we also have a lot of agricultural imports from other provinces—I think the Canadian economy can benefit a lot. I am thinking in the area, for example, of IT, where many students can come to Saskatchewan and other western provinces, other provinces where our students want to go.
As the honourable MP has pointed out, Bangladeshi students can contribute in a big way to the economy of Saskatchewan, as basically the province is an agricultural-based province and we have a huge sector, and these kinds of students can contribute for both Saskatchewan and Bangladesh if they get the opportunity.
This is not limited to Saskatchewan. I think it applies to other provinces. I think in the areas of health care, nursing and, as I already said, IT, if our students get the opportunity, they can have the experience of the Canadian education system and can contribute to both Canada and Bangladesh. Especially once again I'd like to focus on how that will help our women students a lot because really our women students feel safe studying in Canada. That's why, honourable MP and other members of the committee, I'd like you all to seriously kindly consider our request.
One thing I'd like to add is that we are from South Asia, and two of our brother countries, India and Pakistan, are already in the program. Bangladesh not only belongs to SAARC but belongs to the Commonwealth, and Canada is a big promoter of Commonwealth countries, so this support would be very helpful for Bangladesh and for Canada and that which exists in the co-operation between Bangladesh and Canada.
That is a big gift for us.