The provincial government has launched an economic development strategy with an eye on making Manitoba a “have” province by 2040.

Premier Wab Kinew made the announcement during a private sector-led 2025 leader’s forum Thursday. The economic strategy was noted in the province’s 2025 budget.

A focus is on Manitoba’s productivity, Kinew said. He pointed to decreased productivity within Manitoba and nationally.

Productivity — looking at inputs, such as time and money, compared with outputs contributing to GDP — has been declining in Manitoba since 2015, Kinew said.

He laid out a list of policies included in the new strategy.

Manitoba will fund a $50-million financing program for businesses to make “productivity-enhancing” investments. The first tranche, Kinew said, will be spent on trade-

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