B.C. businesses of every size are front and centre with the global LNG industry on the trade-show floor as part of the Second International LNG Conference at the Vancouver Convention Centre this week.

The trade show is a key element of the LNG-Buy BC program announced by Premier Christy Clark in the fall of 2013 to help link B.C businesses with LNG proponents looking to build their projects in our province.

Close to 100 B.C. companies are registered to take part at the trade show organized by the LNG-Buy BC program, including 14 Aboriginal businesses.

A new online tool to connect B.C. businesses with LNG proponents is also being demonstrated for the first time throughout the three-day tradeshow. The tool is designed to:

• Facilitate connections between proponents/contractors and B.C. companies.
• Provide a channel for communicating proponents’ requirements.
• Support the promotion and marketing of B.C. companies to global businesses for both export opportunities and for foreign direct investment projects in B.C.
• Provide a platform for supply-chain connections for other sectors and projects critical to B.C.’s economy.

Companies and LNG proponents will be invited to pre-register their business prior to the official launch of the online tool in the fall.

LNG-Buy BC’s programming at the conference is aimed at demonstrating what the province’s companies have to offer and to making sure connections are made between B.C. businesses and LNG proponents. More than 100 business-to-business meetings are scheduled to take place on the trade-show floor. Two panel discussions are also scheduled on May 22 with representatives from LNG proponents talking about where the opportunities will be for B.C. businesses, and from a number of B.C. businesses that have already achieved success in tapping into major projects.

The LNG-Buy BC program will also offer supplier boot camps and RFP seminars across all three days of the trade show. Over 300 B.C. companies have already benefitted from LNG-Buy BC workshops held across B.C. communities, and 11 more of these workshops will be held after the conference. These free workshops help companies better understand the procurement opportunities and processes associated with serving major LNG projects and guide them through the RFP process to secure contracts.  

The conference is highlighting skills training and the jobs of LNG as a part of the recently launched B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, government’s 10-year plan to ensure education and training programs are aligned with the labour market demands. The #findyourfit interactive career fair targeted to provide youth with key information about jobs in demand today and in the future is being toured by more than 1,500 students from around the province.

Quote:

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour -

“LNG-Buy BC is focussed on ensuring B.C. businesses have the tools they need to connect with the opportunity LNG offers. The boot camps and seminars at the conference and throughout the province afterwards will provide valuable insights into how B.C. companies can be part of the incredible generational opportunity of LNG. The new online tool we are demonstrating at the conference and formally launching later this year is the platform British Columbia will use to showcase to LNG proponents what local businesses have to offer.”

Quick Facts:

• If five LNG facilities move forward, the cumulative gross domestic product benefit to British Columbia could total $1 trillion.
• LNG export operations in B.C. could create more than 100,000 jobs and new revenues for government to support a debt-free future.

Learn More at:

LNG-Buy BC web site: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/lnginbc/lng-buy-bc-program/

LNG Conference web site:http://engage.gov.bc.ca/lnginbc/lng-conference/

Bootcamps/Seminars - Northern Development Initiative Trust: http://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/

BC Jobs Plan: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/

B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: www.workbc.ca/skills

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
250 387-2799