Finance Minister Michael de Jong leaves for a trip to India and Malaysia today to advance emerging new bilateral trade and investment opportunities and promote British Columbia’s stable economic story.

In India, de Jong will meet with Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Finance, and representatives from India’s state bank, Securities and Exchange Commission, and the India Infrastructure Finance Corporation to continue discussions on the Province issuing a masala bond in the Indian Rupee bond market.

Last December, de Jong met with various industry and government representatives in New Delhi and Mumbai to explore how B.C.’s recent success in China’s domestic and offshore bond markets can be replicated in India.

B.C.'s Finance minister then travels to Kuala Lumpur to explore opportunities to further economic relations with Malaysia. He will meet with representatives for PETRONAS, Malaysia’s nationally owned energy company, to discuss the progress made and next steps to establish an LNG facility near Prince Rupert.

While in Kuala Lumpur, he will also attend the Offshore Technology Conference to highlight the Province’s overall economic strengths, investment outlook and B.C.’s partnership with PETRONAS on the LNG project. The four-day conference is expected to attract more than 25,000 energy professionals from more than 80 countries.

The estimated travel and accommodation cost for the minister and his ministerial assistant is approximately $27,500. Information on final costs will be made available.