Premier Horgan has returned from a nine-day working visit to France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands aimed at commemorating the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Juno Beach in France.

Meetings in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands focused on expanding economic ties, promoting B.C.’s strengths in clean energy, technology and innovation through CleanBC, and discussing shared solutions to combat climate change.

Highlights of the visit include:

France

• As a member of the Canadian delegation, the Premier observed the D-Day ceremonies on behalf of British Columbia at Juno Beach with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

United Kingdom

• A meeting with the Canadian deputy high commissioner to the United Kingdom was held to share views on the politics and economies in B.C., Canada, the U.K. and Europe.
• The Premier attended an event with representatives from several leading U.K. companies to discuss opportunities for further collaboration and business development. These companies included Babcock International, BAE Systems, the IP group and the Madano Partnership and Pinewood Studios.
• A meeting with U.K.-leading architecture firm Waugh Thistleton, which specializes in timber and cross-laminated timber construction, provided the opportunity to promote B.C.’s leadership and new policy on the use of innovative B.C. wood products in the construction of tall wood buildings.
• Premier Horgan toured the Siemens Crystal Building to learn more about European approaches to zero-emission buildings and smart city development. The Premier also shared B.C.’s experience in the same fields, particularly in the context of CleanBC. 

Netherlands

• The Premier met with the Canadian ambassador to the Netherlands to explore shared priorities on trade, investment, economic development and climate change policy in the Netherlands.
• A meeting with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy provided an opportunity to highlight the Province’s recent actions through CleanBC to develop a sustainable economy and tackle climate change. In addition, B.C.’s liquefied natural gas was promoted for marine bunkering applications at the Port of Rotterdam.
• The Premier met with Royal Dutch Shell, the leading proponent for the LNG Canada project, to acknowledge Shell’s continued investment in the natural gas industry in British Columbia.
• The Premier met with Priva, a leading Dutch vertical farming, indoor horticulture and building management systems business, to learn about Priva’s expertise in horticultural technology, as well as its future growth plans.