Premier Horgan, ministers to head to Asia on trade mission
Posted January 8, 2018 12:06 pm.
Last Updated September 20, 2019 1:32 pm.
VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – British Columbia’s premier is heading to China, South Korea and Japan later this month on a 10-day trade mission aimed at generating jobs for British Columbians.
John Horgan says the trip is directed at expanding the province’s economic ties with three of its largest trading partners.
Horgan will promote bilateral relationships between British Columbia and key government and business leaders.
Bruce Ralston, minister of jobs, trade and technology, and George Chow, minister of state for trade, will travel with the premier to all three countries.
Ralston says the trip aims to generate jobs for people in BC.
“After the United States, they’re our biggest trading partners. China, Japan and Korea in that order.”
“I think government-to-government relations are very important in developing the kind of connections that result in creating jobs here in British Columbia.”
The trip comes as NAFTA negotiations continue.
“We’ll see what happens with NAFTA. Certainly there’s a stress in the trading relationship with the United States, although they continue to be our biggest customer,” Ralston says. “We have many, many connections with the United States at every level. But certainly it’s important to make sure we’re diversified and not dependent on any one market.”
Lisa Beare, minister of tourism, arts and culture, will travel to China.
