British Columbia's trade relationships have a direct impact on the growth of family-supporting jobs in our province, said Premier Christy Clark on the heels of the second Jobs and Trade Mission to Japan, Korea and the Philippines.

"Since releasing 'Canada Starts Here: the BC Jobs Plan', our government has been focused on promoting British Columbia's natural advantages to Asian investors. This trade mission was about building on our strategic trade relationships so we can continue building our economy's momentum," said Premier Clark. "The economies in Asia are in need of our natural and intellectual resources and together we can grow our economies and provide well-paying jobs for B.C. families."

Throughout the approximately 40 events and meetings with political leaders and large investors, 25 business deals and partnership agreements were signed or announced with a value of more than half a billion dollars.

Two of the companies with which Premier Clark met, KOGAS and Mitsubishi, announced that they have partnered with Shell Canada Limited and PetroChina Company Limited to jointly develop a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility near Kitimat, which is expected to handle 12 million tonnes of LNG a year and create thousands of jobs for British Columbians. Premier Clark was joined on the mission by representatives of Shell Canada Limited.

"On behalf of the LNG Canada project, we applaud the B.C. government's initiative for a second jobs and trade mission to Asia. It shows the province's commitment to developing relationships with the customers and markets of the future," said Lorraine Mitchelmore, president and country chair of Shell Canada. "B.C. has abundant natural gas and LNG Canada will be well-suited to deliver long-term value for British Columbia and access new export markets for Canada."

Additionally, the Province and Japan Oil Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) signed an agreement to co-operate and share information on natural gas activities in B.C.

B.C.'s mining sector saw success during the trade mission, including a three-year extension of an agreement between Imperial Metals Corporation and Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. worth $150 million, and a $35-million investment by JX Nippon Oil for a feasibility study for Xstrata Coal's Suska Project near Dease Lake.

"We are extremely pleased with the outcomes from this trade mission and the ongoing support from the B.C. government," said Brian Kynoch, president, Imperial Metals Corporation. "To have Premier Christy Clark lead this trade mission to open doors, seek new markets and build on current relationships, confirms that British Columbia is a place to do business."

New and innovative technologies played a large part in the mission, including an agreement between Nelson BioEnergy, Princeton Co-Gen and Korea Welds Co. for the purchase of 6,000 tonnes of wood pellets this year, worth $1.26 million. Premier Clark also met with DeNA, a mobile game producer, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Japan's largest pharmaceutical company.

"Investors are very keen on B.C. because we have bountiful natural resources, solid infrastructure and a skilled workforce. These trade missions are about making sure our economy maximizes its potential by drawing that investment and creating as many jobs as possible for the hard-working people of B.C.", said Premier Clark.

During the mission, Premier Clark also visited the Philippines to provide B.C.'s government opportunities to strengthen its economic partnerships in the region. While in Manila, our government signed a Joint Communiqué with the Philippines' Department of Labor and Employment on areas of mutual benefits with respect to labour mobility.

"The Philippines economy is showing signs of growth. By supporting our friends we can expand opportunities in both our regions," said Premier Clark.

Approximately 104 delegates representing 75 companies, organizations and community groups accompanied the Premier on the BC Jobs and Trade Mission.

Premier Clark left Vancouver on May 12. While in Japan the mission visited both Sendai and Tokyo. In Korea, the mission made stops in both Seoul and Suwon. Finally, before returning on May 20, Premier Clark led the mission to Manila in the Philippines.

The second BC Jobs and Trade Mission followed a commitment made in 'Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan' to strengthen existing relationships between B.C. and Asian markets by opening doors for new relationships and setting the stage for future opportunities in Japan, Korea and the Philippines.

Contact:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-7104

A backgrounder follows.

BACKGROUNDER

Trade Mission Key Announcements for Tuesday, May 14

• The University of Northern British Columbia and Gakushuin Women's College signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop academic areas of mutual interest. The two are agreeing to establish a relationship to develop study abroad programs, exchange students and faculty members, promote the co-operation in academic activities, and develop other mutually beneficial programs. The schools also launched a new high definition video link between the two campuses.
• The University of Northern British Columbia and the Japan Travel Bureau Business World Tokyo Corporation signed an MOU to promote, encourage, and facilitate the development and internationalization of higher education in B.C.
• Royal Roads University and VIEC International Inc. of Japan signed an MOU toward development and implementation of programs specific to the Japanese market, as well as the promotion of mutual understanding between the two organizations.
• The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan and Canada Japan Society of British Columbia signed an MOU to strengthen co-operation between the two organizations, including exchange of information, work to further improve and expand trade relations, and to promote cooperation among government officials and the business community.

Trade Mission Key Announcements for Tuesday, May 15

• Nippon Access agreed to retail Natural Glaciers Waters product through one of Japan's largest grocery chains.
• Powertech and Tomoe Shokai have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to enter into a strategic alliance for the sale of Powertech's hydrogen fuelling stations in Japan. Each fuelling station has a value of some $2 million.
• JX Nippon and Xstrata Coal announced a $35-million pre-feasibility study of the Suska Coal Project, located between Tumbler Ridge and Chetwynd.
• Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. and Imperial Metals Corporation revealed a three-year extension of an existing copper concentrate agreement between the two companies worth a total of $150 million.

Trade Mission Key Announcements for Wednesday, May 16

• The Government of British Columbia and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation signed an MOU covering co-operation and information sharing on natural gas activities in B.C.

Trade Mission Key Announcements for Thursday, May 17

• Canada Wood Group and Best House Korea signed an MOU for the sharing of information on the design and construction of wood-frame houses to be built at Masung Wood Framed Home Community Development Project. It is expected that up to $5 million in B.C. lumber will be purchased for the project.
• UBC and KIST signed an MOU on the implementation of joint research in clean technology and the establishment of a KIST Research Laboratory at UBC.
• RCI Capital/Sustainable Development Technology Canada and TStone Corporation agreed on $300 million worth of matching funding for investment in Canadian clean technology portfolio companies, of which over 30 per cent of the portfolios are B.C. companies.
• British Columbia based Deltalok Group agreed to supply Acciona Energy Korea with the design and construction of permanent structures for the wind power complex in Young Yang County, GyeongBuk Province. The agreement is for 70 units and is valued at $10 million.
• Durae Corporation and Ironwood Clay Company announced an MOU to establish partnership, collaboration and economic development opportunities. Ironwood is a supplier of Marine Mineral Elements water to AmorePacific, the largest cosmetics manufacturer in Korea, through Durae Corporation.
• Hanjin Shipping and Prince Rupert Port Authority celebrated the company's one-year anniversary of shipping to Prince Rupert.

Trade Mission Key Announcements for Friday, May 18

• Royal Roads University and the Institute of International Education at Kookmin University agreed to establish an institutional partnership.
• Nelson Bio Energy (of Vancouver, B.C.) will supply 6,000 tons of B.C. wood pellets produced by Princeton Co-Generation Company (of Princeton, B.C.,) to Korea Welds Company in 2012. In 2013, 10,000 tons will be supplied.

Trade Mission Key Announcements for Saturday, May 19

• The Province of British Columbia and the Republic of the Philippines signed a Joint Communiqué on areas of mutual benefits with respect to labour mobility.
• Aquilini Renewable Energy announced it received approval from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) to build, operate and manage a $15-million waste-to-energy gasification plant in the City of Mactan in Cebu Province.
• The Applied Science and Technologists and Technicians of BC and the Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table announced the launch of their Training Assessment for Technologists and Technicians Project. The project will pilot a collaborative assessment process for comparing Philippine and Canadian education, as well as training and professional standards in the civil, mechanical and electronics technology occupations.
• Montreux Capital Corp., a BC-based TSX-V company, is acquiring several proprietary banking software assets, including Kowops eCommunity Solutions Phils Inc., a Philippines-based banking software company, in a $1.75-million transaction that will bring modern banking solutions to the underserviced poor in emerging markets.

Media can download raw footage, photos, audio on: www.sendtonews.com

To view and download photos from the Asia Trade Mission, visit: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjz4PFfy

Follow the Asia Trade Mission at: http://www.britishcolumbia.ca/Connect/PremiersMission2012/Pages/PremiersMission.aspx

Contact:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-7104