A new B.C. trade and investment representative office in San Francisco is officially open for business, giving B.C. businesses greater access to the U.S. market and investors.  

Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology Bruce Ralston opened the new office and introduced B.C.’s new trade and investment representative, Tate Turner, to U.S. technology stakeholders at WeWork 600 California. The office opening is part of Ralston’s executive visit to California from Nov. 13-14.

“B.C.’s tech sector is an important part of our province’s economy, creating thousands of good-paying jobs for British Columbians,” said Ralston. “B.C.’s new trade and investment office in San Francisco will give our tech companies a competitive edge in the Pacific Northwest, helping B.C. companies attract talent, grow investment and develop new partnership opportunities in the United States.”

The San Francisco trade and investment office establishes a B.C. presence in one of the most vibrant technology markets in the United States. It will help attract investment to the province, while connecting B.C. companies with venture capitalists, skilled tech workers and strategic partners in the United States.

“San Francisco is a strategic location for B.C. tech companies looking to attract international investment and talent,” said Matt Harris, co-founder of Sendwithus, a Victoria-grown startup with an office in Silicon Valley. “Having the support of B.C.’s trade and investment office to connect with U.S. companies will be a great resource for us and other tech companies in the future.”

As the director of B.C.’s San Francisco trade and investment representative office, Turner brings more than 14 years of experience in international economic development, software development and sales and marketing in international markets. Most recently, as a part of the U.K.’s Department of International Trade, Turner was responsible for all foreign direct investment by U.S. Pacific Northwest companies into the U.K. and the expansion of U.K. companies to the United States.

“With constant innovation and new ideas happening in San Francisco, B.C. tech companies have great opportunities to expand their exports and work with U.S. investors. I look forward to working with our tech companies and introducing them to U.S. partners so they can take their business to the next level,” said Turner.

The San Francisco office fulfils a commitment in the B.C. Tech Strategy and will serve Northern California with a focus on the tech sector. It is the latest addition to B.C.’s growing trade network in the U.S., following the opening of the Seattle trade and investment office this past September. This new office builds on B.C.’s American trade and investment presence in Seattle, Boston and Los Angeles.

As part of their trip, Ralston and ministry representatives met with the Consul General of Canada in San Francisco, Rana Sarkar, and key technology stakeholders.  The minister reinforced the Province’s support for B.C. tech companies, met with current and potential investors and advocated for B.C.’s economic interests in Northern California.   

Quick Facts:

• B.C. has an international presence through a network of approximately 60 trade and investment representatives (TIRs) in 15 cities around the world.
• This network connects B.C. businesses with new markets and trade opportunities and promotes B.C. as a stable and attractive destination for investment and international students.
• B.C. currently has trade and investment representative offices in Japan, South Korea, India, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Europe and the United States.
• B.C.’s technology sector directly employs nearly 106,500 people. Wages for those jobs are about 80% higher than B.C.’s average wage.
• The tech sector produced approximately $28.9 billion in revenue in 2016, a rise of 9.2% from 2015.
• B.C. saw a 3.3% rise in the number of new technology companies in 2016, growing to over 10,200 businesses.
• The GDP of B.C.’s tech sector expanded 3.5% in 2016, contributing $14.6 billion to B.C.’s overall economic output.

Learn More:

To learn more about B.C.’s Trade and Investment Office, visit: https://www.britishcolumbia.ca/global/trade-and-investment-representatives/

To learn more about the #BCTECH strategy, visit: https://bctechstrategy.gov.bc.ca/

To learn more about the #BCTECH Summit, visit: https://bctechsummit.ca/