Finance Minister Michael de Jong travels to Europe and New York to meet with investors June 1 - 11, 2014, where he will discuss B.C.’s economy, balanced budget, triple-A credit rating and LNG opportunity.

de Jong and senior finance ministry officials will meet with investors interested in buying British Columbia bonds in the international and Canadian capital markets. The meetings present an excellent opportunity for highlighting the Province’s favourable credit story and generating European investor demand for B.C. bonds when the province comes to market. A strong investor following supports relatively low borrowing costs for provincial taxpayers.

As well as meeting with investors in London, de Jong will meet with officials and the U.K. Treasury to learn from London’s decision to become an offshore Renminbi Trading Centre. In November 2013, B.C. became the first foreign government to issue bonds into the Chinese Renminbi (CNH) market.

In New York, the minister will attend a conference on North American energy.

Full itinerary:

• June 2: Frankfurt, Germany
• June 3: Munich, Germany
• June 4: Zurich, Switzerland
• June 5 - 6: France: Minister attends D-Day commemorative services
• June 5 - 6: Amsterdam, Netherlands and Paris, France (senior officials only)
• June 8 - 10: London, England
• June 11: New York City

The estimated travel and accommodation cost for the minister and his chief of staff is approximately $15,600. Detailed information on final amounts will be made available.

Media Contacts:

Jamie Edwardson
Communications Director
Ministry of Finance
250 356 2821