Gordon Campbell Leading Green Delegation To Korea & China

VICTORIA – Premier Gordon Campbell will lead British Columbia’s largest-ever green business delegation on a trade mission to South Korea and China, May 17-24, to promote B.C. expertise in clean technology and green building and pursue opportunities in trade, education and investment. Premier Campbell will also officially open the B.C. Canada Pavilion in Beijing. 

“British Columbia has world-leading expertise in green technology and green design, and this mission will help us make valuable connections to two of Asia’s burgeoning economies who are looking for ways to become more sustainable and, like British Columbia, reduce their footprint on the planet,” said Premier Campbell. “We will also forge relationships with key education and research facilities, and mining, shipping, and transportation investors; and promote B.C. as the host of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games."

Highlights of Premier Campbell’s May 17-24 mission to Korea and China include: 

• Highlight B.C.’s clean technology and green design expertise in a keynote speech to the Korea International Trade Association.
• Meet with the Prime Minister of Korea, Han Seung-Soo, to discuss trade between B.C. and South Korea, highlight B.C. technology and promote B.C.’s natural resource sector, including forestry and mining.
• Meet with Gyeonggi Province Governor Moo-Soo Kim and establish a sister-province relationship with the South Korean province of Gyeonngi to forge stronger social and trade relations between provinces.
• Open B.C.’s first trade and investment office in Seoul, South Korea.
• Preside over the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Yonsei University of South Korea and Simon Fraser University on material sciences, nanotechnology and medical sciences.
• Launch the BC Alumni Program in Korea.
• Officially open the Vancouver Film School’s Korea recruitment office.

 

This is Premier Campbell’s fifth mission to Asia and first mission to Korea. He led a mission to China and India in November and December 2007, traveled to China and Japan in November 2006, visited China and India in November 2003, and went to China and Japan in October and November 2001.

South Korea is the third-largest economy in Asia, and a top-10 tourism market. It is B.C.’s fourth-largest import market, and fifth-leading source for immigrants. 

China is B.C.’s second-largest trade partner, with more than $10 billion annually in trade between China and B.C. China is B.C.’s second-largest import market and third-largest export market. Exports to China have increased more than 97 per cent since 2002. China was the top source for immigrants settling in British Columbia in 2006. More than 433,000 British Columbians are of Chinese origin. 

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http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2008OTP0135-000768.htm