Following up on a commitment Premier Christy Clark made in November of 2011, the Province will open two new trade and investment offices in the cities of Mumbai and Chandigarh to further strengthen the burgeoning business opportunities with India, announced Finance Minister Michael de Jong, Q.C.

These new provincial commercial agencies will be situated within the existing Canadian Consulate General offices in these two major cities. This co-location arrangement will provide the Province with an excellent professional environment from which to conduct business in a co-ordinated manner with Canadian government representatives in India.

Mumbai is India's financial capital and accounts for 40 per cent of all economic activity in that country. Chandigarh is the capital of the States of Punjab and Haryana and therefore has an enduring connection to many in the Indo Canadian community in British Columbia who trace their roots back to the Punjab.

"We attach great importance to capitalizing on the growing bi-lateral business and cultural relations between India and British Columbia," said Finance Minister Michael deJong, Q.C., on the eve of his departure for India. "It is essential that we energetically pursue provincial investment opportunities and educational ties with this vast and vibrant nation."

Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, noted that, "These offices and the people that work in them are the window through which investments come to British Columbia, and with every investment comes jobs for British Columbians."

While in India in December to open these new offices, Minister de Jong will also fulfil a personal commitment made during his time as Minister of Health. During this tenure, he realized the absolute necessity of striving to create a healthy lifestyle. He therefore plans to walk the distance between Amritsar and Chandigarh in the State of Punjab, with a view to raising awareness around the chronic diseases of diabetes and hypertension.

The Minister will be assisted with the professional aspects of the health tour by Dr. Gulzar Cheema, former Minister of Mental Health for British Columbia and a general practitioner in the Lower Mainland. Moreover, iCON, the interCultural Online Health Network based in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, has lent enthusiastic support and medical expertise to this undertaking.

Quick Facts:

• India is currently home to about 1.21 billion people, representing a full 17 per cent of the world's population.
• Every day, India adds 42,434 people to its population.
• The State of Punjab's population is 27,704,236 million people.
• B.C. exports to India 2012 year-to-date (Jan.-Sept.) are up 224 per cent over the same period last year.
• The health walking tour of the Punjab is a private undertaking by the minister. Any costs associated with this undertaking will be personally borne by him; including the round trip flight to India.

Learn More:

To find out more about trade and investment offices, visit: http://www.britishcolumbia.ca

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
250 356-8277