As part of the second day of Premier Christy Clark's Jobs and Trade Mission 2013 to Korea, eight additional agreements have been signed, further deepening ties with British Columbian, Korean and Chinese businesses and organizations.

One of the highlights is an agreement between the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) to formulate a joint strategy related to fuel cell technology and the production, processing and liquefaction of natural gas.

The agreement includes a commitment from KOGAS to set up a research laboratory at UBC and for both institutions to explore areas of potential collaboration including, but not limited to, the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technology, natural gas production, processing and liquefaction technologies. They also will pursue partnerships with B.C.-based fuel cell companies to explore commercialization opportunities.

While in Seoul, Korea, Premier Clark also witnessed the signing of agreements between British Columbian and Korean businesses and organizations:

• A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Royal Roads University (RRU) and the Foundation for Preventing Youth Violence to create a joint forum onyouth violence prevention programs as well as academic exchange programs.
  
  (flickr.com)
• A MOU between RRU and Sookmyung Women's University (SWU) to create a joint masters of arts in leadership program, which fits SWU's role in training for women in leadership.
  
  (flickr.com)
• A MOU between RRU and Kyung Hee University to develop academic co-operation in research, knowledge sharing, joint seminars and academic meetings, student/faculty exchanges and short-term academic programs in the areas of tourism and hospitality.
  
  (flickr.com)

Also while in Seoul, Premier Clark welcomed several announcements with B.C. links:

• Samsung Electronics, the world's number one smartphone producer, announced the official opening of its first Canadian research and development centre in Burnaby. This new venture will focus on developing mobile enterprise solutions such as Samsung KNOX(tm), while also providing global technical support for the company's diverse B2B customers.
• UBC and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) released an update on the research partnership between UBC's Clean Energy Research Centre and KIST on four joint research and development projects on fuels and chemicals sourced from biomass.
• The BC Bioenergy Network and the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning announced a collaborative research project between Highbury Energy, a B.C. bioenergy company, and the Korea Institute of Energy Research to develop liquid fuels from forestry wastes.
• Roadhouse Interactive, a B.C. based developer, operator and publisher of electronic games, announced its partnership with Korea's Red Pig Games to adapt and publish Shooting Cows, an arcade puzzle game.

In Shanghai, China, Minister of International Trade Teresa Wat signed an agreement between the ministry and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization to promote two-way economic relations and facilitate direct government-to-government dialogue and business-to-business contacts.

In addition, Wat witnessed the signing of several agreements between British Columbian and Chinese businesses and organizations:

• An investment agreement between MedGenesis of Victoria and Jiangsu Hualan for its owner Mr. Yimin Hua to invest over $1 million in MedGenesis.
• An announcement by Pharmaster International (Ningbo) to establish its first overseas research centre in B.C.
• A sales agreement between V.I.P. Soap Products Ltd. of B.C. and Canaan of Shanghai to provide $2 million in B.C.-produced, environmentally friendly household products.
• An agreement between HapiFoods Group of Gibsons, the makers of Holy Crap cereal, and Sinova Foods International to market and distribute HapiFoods products in China.

Learn More:

The BC Newsroom has live updates from #TM13 here: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/10/growing-markets-in-asia-and-promoting-investment-in-british-columbia---trade-missions.html

You can also follow the 2013 trade mission using www.BritishColumbia.ca, the Province's international-facing website, its Twitter feed at https://twitter.com/BCTradeInvest and on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/trade-&-invest-british-columbia

For information on the agreement between UBC and KOGAS: http://www.ubc.ca/

For more information on the agreements signed by Royal Roads University: http://www.royalroads.ca/news-releases/royal-roads-joins-trade-mission-sign-global-agreements

For more information on Samsung's announcement: http://www.samsung.com/

For more information on UBC's Clean Energy Research Centre: http://www.cerc.ubc.ca/

For more information on BC Bioenergy Network's announcement: http://bcbioenergy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/2013-11-28-29-BCBN-KIER-News-Release.pdf

For more information on Roadhouse Interactive's announcement: http://www.roadhouseinteractive.com/news/

For information on MedGenesis: http://www.medgenesis.com/

For information on V.I.P. Soaps Products Ltd.: http://www.vipsoap.com/

For information on HapiFoods Group: http://www.holycrap.ca/

Contacts:

Sam Oliphant
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 952-7252

Blair Phelps
Communications Director
|Ministry of International Trade and Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism
250 356-7104