NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2010STED0023-001036 Sept. 7, 2010

Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development

 

PROVINCE, BUSINESS BOOST B.C. AT CHINA INVESTMENT EXPO

 

XIAMEN, CHINA – A 50- person delegation from British Columbia is promoting the province this week at the world’s largest international investment promotion event in China, announced Iain Black, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, and Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations.

 

The delegation to the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) includes representatives from the Province, businesses, municipalities, post-secondary institutions, and transportation. 

 

“The Province is pleased to assist this impressive delegation of B.C. companies, organizations, and municipalities at this trade show,” said Black. “B.C. already does a higher percentage of trade with Asia than any other Canadian province and this delegation is another example of us looking across the Pacific to build an even stronger economy.”

 

British Columbia’s participation at CIFIT has been organized by the Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development through its trade and investment representative office in Guangzhou. The trade office has set up a B.C. Pavilion to promote the province’s economic opportunities and investment potential. 

 

“British Columbia’s future economic prosperity is directly tied to our ability to trade with markets in Asia, and China is one of our key markets,” said Yamamoto, who is leading the B.C. delegation. “It’s very important that B.C. is on the ground in China and demonstrating to investors that we want their business.”

 

Chinese government and business leaders will attend a B.C. investment seminar and business reception on September 9. Minister Yamamoto will promote B.C.’s attractive investment climate and other presenters will include Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar, Initiatives Prince George CEO Tim McEwan, and Burnaby Board of Trade president Darlene Gering.  The Canadian Consulate’s senior trade commissioner and the head of Canada’s industrial and commercial delegation to CIFIT will speak at the business reception.

 

The B.C. group is among more than 600 delegations from 130 countries expected to attend CIFIT, which is now in its fourteenth year. China is British Columbia’s second largest bi-lateral trading partner. In 2009, B.C.’s domestic exports to China exceeded $2.6 billion. During the first six months of 2010, exports were up by 37 per cent over 2009’s record pace.

 

Export-ready B.C. companies thinking about trading with China or other markets can get information by contacting the Province’s Asia Pacific Business Centre in Robson Square at
604 660-9727, online at asia.pacific@gov.bc.ca or by visiting http://trade.britishcolumbia.ca.

 

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Media Contact:

Rob Duffus Communications Director Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development 250 356-9428 250 812-2433 (cell)

 

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