British Columbia to host BC-India Global Business Forum, March 12

B.C. to host business forum focused on trade and investment with India

VANCOUVER – Business leaders from India and British Columbia will meet to discuss trade and investment opportunities at the BC-India Global Business Forum on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre.

The opening and expansion of markets for British Columbia’s goods and services, particularly in Asia, and the attraction of investment to grow B.C.’s priority sectors is a key pillar of the BC Jobs Plan. India is identified in the BC Jobs Plan as a priority market.

The B.C. government has been spearheading India market outreach efforts to seek new export and investment opportunities for B.C. businesses, and to create greater awareness of B.C.’s advantages as a trading partner.

The BC-India Global Business Forum is a key part of B.C.’s longer-term economic and trade strategy with India. It will profile key sectors that are of mutual priority for both the B.C. and Indian markets. The forum will include sector-specific discussions and presentations, as well as networking sessions to facilitate business opportunities and business matching.

Trade and investment representatives in newly opened offices in Mumbai and Chandigarh, along with the existing trade office in Bangalore, will identify specific partnership opportunities for Indian and British Columbian business leaders to discuss at the forum. Finance Minister Michael de Jong opened these two new B.C. trade and investment offices last month.

After the forum concludes, there will be followup events around trade shows, trade missions and bilateral meetings to continue the momentum created by the event.

For more information on B.C.’s trade and investment with India, call 1 888 880-ASIA (2742), or contact the ministry through the website at:www.britishcolumbia.ca

Quotes:

Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour –

“India is a rapidly expanding market, and we face tough competition from around the world to gain a foothold for trade and investment as their economy grows. The BC-India Global Business Forum will help us to grow key relationships Premier Clark initiated during her Jobs and Trade Mission last year, and will also give us media exposure so we can tell India what B.C. is about and what we have to offer.”

Michael de Jong, Minister of Finance –

“With the largest middle class in the world, India is full of opportunity and our government is working to ensure B.C. is a part of their enormous economic growth. In the weeks, months and years ahead, we’re going to redouble our efforts to increase trade and investment with India so we can create jobs here in B.C.”

Barj Dhahan, Chair, Canada India Foundation –

“India offers huge export and investment opportunities for B.C. businesses. Likewise, Indian businesses are looking to invest in B.C. The upcoming BC-India Global Business Forum in March 2013 in Vancouver is an exciting and timely gathering which will help to build relationships between B.C. and Indian business leaders.”

“While B.C.’s exports to India have dramatically grown in the past two years, I believe we can grow our exports to $ 1 billion per annum within the next few years. I wish to commend Premier Clark and the B.C. government for the opening of the B.C. trade offices in Chandigarh and Mumbai as these offices will be of strategic value in expanding bilateral trade and investment between our province and India.”

Quick facts:

* As of October 2012, year-to-date B.C. exports of goods to India were up significantly, by 212 per cent, compared to the same period in 2011.
* As of September 2012, year-to-date overnight customs entries from India to B.C. had increased 9.4 per cent over the same period in 2011.

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:
Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
250 356-8177
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect