British Columbia's International Trade and Investment Representatives are hitting the road to continue their tour of communities and regions throughout the province.

The seven-day, autumn road show will see the eight international representatives travel to the Kootenays, the Northeast and Northern Vancouver Island. This is the fourth road show and completes a cross-province tour, allowing the international reps to build partnerships and relationships with B.C. businesses and communities in key regions and sectors, including natural gas, mining, biomass and technology.

The road show will include the eight heads of British Columbia's Trade and Investment Representative Offices from Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Bangalore, San Francisco and London. It includes dialogues with businesses, municipalities and First Nations groups about opportunities they have internationally and government services they can access to make the most of this province's natural advantages as outlined in Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan. Government trade and investment services include the B.C. Business Network, a directory of suppliers and exporters, and the newly launched Opportunities BC website, a searchable online database that serves as the official portal for international investors to explore opportunities in our communities.

Opening and expanding international markets for the province's goods and services is one of the pillars of the BC Jobs Plan. Also the B.C. government has committed to doubling its overseas presence by March of 2013 to accelerate trade and direct foreign investment by marketing the province's competitive advantages and world-class business environment.

The International Trade and Investment Representatives make local introductions to potential buyers, investors and other in-market partners. They help companies identify opportunities and offer assistance in making the right investment decisions. For example, the B.C. government's Trade and Investment Representative in Shanghai, John MacDonald, has just completed an investment road show across East China, holding well-attended events in Ningbo, Nanjing and Shanghai.

Quote:

Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and the Minister Responsible for Labour -

"We want businesses and communities throughout British Columbia to have access to the B.C. government's services and to get the guidance they need to open new international markets and create more jobs for B.C. families. By sending the International Trade and Investment Representatives to B.C.'s regions, we're making it easier for businesses and communities to learn about new opportunities and services."

Quick Facts:

• The road show will visit the Kootenays from Oct. 22 to Oct. 24. Communities include Cranbrook, Creston, Kimberly, Sparwood, Fernie and Trail, with a focus on tourism, agrifood, bio-energy and mining.

• On Oct. 25, the reps will visit the Northeast, with stops in Fort St. John and Fort Nelson and a focus on natural gas and energy; the reps visited Kitimat, the site of B.C.'s first liquefied natural gas terminal, during the summer road show in June of this year.

• On Northern Vancouver Island, the reps will travel to Nanaimo, Quadra Island and then Campbell River to meet with the Economic Development Pilot there, with a focus on agrifood, forestry, bio-energy and manufacturing.

• Additional trade and investment services provided by the representatives and the ministry include:

• International market intelligence and trade leads to help companies sell products and services overseas.

• Advice on developing marketing strategy and cross-cultural business practices.

•  Connecting with key industry, government and community influencers.

• Seminars and training on exporting and accessing international markets.

•  Promoting B.C. educational institutions to international students.

•  Organizing and supporting trade missions, exhibitions and conferences in B.C. and around the world.

Learn More:

To find out more about the Trade and Investment Representatives, visit: http://www.britishcolumbia.ca and check the Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/#!/bctradeinvest @BCTradeInvest

For Opportunities BC, visit: http://www.britishcolumbia.ca/Buy/Opportunity%20Profiles/Pages/OpportunitiesBC.aspx

Contact:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
250 356-8177