NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 2008EMPR0062-001674 Nov. 6, 2008	Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
INVESTMENT MISSION TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND CERTAINTY

VICTORIA – Asian investors will play a key role in the development and continued prosperity of B.C.’s minerals sector, said Gordon Hogg, Minister of State for Mining, as he prepared to leave for the 2008 Asia-Pacific investment mission, leading a delegation of British Columbia mining companies and a representative from the First Nations Leadership Council.

 

“Creating a climate of confidence and certainty will assure our Asian investors that B.C.’s international reputation as one of the world’s most prominent mining regions offers attractive investment opportunities,” said Hogg. “Industry and First Nations representation at China Mining reflects B.C.’s commitment to develop partnerships built on trust, collaboration and co-operation.”

 

The B.C. delegation is visiting China as well as Japan and South Korea to build on relationships begun in 2006 with B.C.’s first mining investment visit to Asia. Hogg will be attending the China Mining Congress, which is Asia’s largest mining exhibition, with over 3,000 delegates from 45 different countries attending last year. The congress, celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year, will take place in Beijing from Nov. 11 to 13.

 

The delegation will also be meeting with Chinese, Japanese and Korean officials, mining companies and investors to promote opportunities for investing in exploration activities and mine development in British Columbia.

 

“British Columbia’s natural resource potential, technology, expertise, infrastructure and competitive business environment, coupled with our unique position as the gateway to the Asia-Pacific have cemented our global reputation as an excellent place to invest,” Hogg added.

 

According to a recent industry report, the value of the B.C. mining industry in 2007 is $6.9 billion, with over half of Canadian exploration companies based in British Columbia.

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1 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Jake Jacobs Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 250 952-0628 250 213-6934
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