Forests
Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson will be leading a delegation of over 25 senior executives from B.C.'s leading forest companies and associations to Japan and China from Oct. 16 to 26, 2013.
China and Japan are B.C.'s two largest offshore markets for B.C. wood products. During the 10-day mission, B.C. delegates will meet with key customers and senior government officials to maintain the business-to-business and government-to-government relationships that are key to expanding market opportunities.
In Japan, delegates will return to the Tohoku region to view the buildings built under the $4.8-million Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project. The project was launched in 2011 with funding from the governments of Canada ($2.2 million), B.C. ($2 million) and Alberta ($150,000) and Canadian forest companies ($460,000). To date, two public buildings have been completed that showcase the advantages of building with Canadian and B.C. wood products.
In China, delegates will discuss the expanding potential for B.C. wood products in everything from resort villas, wood-roof trussing systems, "in-fill" partition walls and wood-concrete hybrid construction. As well as visiting Zhejiang province for the first time, delegates will return to Shanghai and Beijing.
Trade missions are a critical part of British Columbia's strategy to diversify its international trading partners and secure new investment, propelling economic activity and job creation throughout the province. In June 2013, Premier Christy Clark committed Thomson to co-sponsoring annual trade missions to Asia with the forest industry.
Quotes:
Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations -
"Expanding and diversifying our markets in Asian countries like Japan and China are key to the forest sector's continued recovery and an important part of our BC Jobs Plan."
Rick Jeffery, president and CEO, Coast Forest Products Association -
"The upcoming trade mission to Japan and China will allow my member companies to strengthen relationships with key customers and promote the advantages of building with B.C. wood products."
James Gorman, president and CEO, Council of Forest Industries -
"Our industry and the communities in which we are based have benefited from these important trade missions in the past. Our members are excited to be accompanying the Minister to Asia and to further our efforts to expand markets for B.C. wood products."
Teresa Wat, Minister of International Trade -
"Our proximity to Asia gives B.C. an edge in conducting trade with countries in the Asia Pacific and South Asia. Attracting international trade and investment is intensely competitive. It's incumbent upon us to visit these countries and promote the tremendous opportunities in B.C."
Quick Facts:
- China and Japan are respectively, B.C.'s largest markets for softwood lumber products after the U.S.
- As of July 2013, softwood lumber exports to Japan totalled $472 million - a 28 per cent increase over the same time frame for 2012. In 2012, softwood lumber exports totalled $674 million - an increase of 21 per cent from $532 million in 2009 - the worst year of the global economic recession.
- As of July 2013, softwood lumber exports to China totalled $760 million - a 27 per cent increase over the same time frame for 2012. In 2012, softwood lumber exports totalled $1.080 billion. B.C.'s softwood lumber exports exponentially increased from $69 million in 2003 to $1.097 billion in 2011.
Learn More:
BC Jobs Plan: www.bcjobsplan.ca
Building our Natural Advantage: Forest Sector Strategy for British Columbia: www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/forestsectorstrategy/
Contact:
Brennan Clarke
Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261
