The provincial government is touting deals and strengthened trade links following Premier Christy Clark’s return from a trade mission to Japan, Korea and the Philippines.
According to the government, 25 business deals and partnership agreements were signed or announced during the trade mission, with a value of more than $500 million, including:
- a $150 million deal between Imperial Metals Corp. (TSX: III) and Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. extending an agreement by three years;
- a $35 million pre-feasibility study of the Suska Coal Project, announced by JX Nippon Oil and Energy Corp. and Xstrata Coal; and
- an agreement for $300 million of matching funding for investment in Canadian clean technology portfolio companies, made by RCI Capital/Sustainable Development Technology Canada and TStone Corp.
While in the Philippines, Clark signed a joint communiqué with the Philippine’s Department of Labour and Employment on “areas of mutual benefits with respect to labour mobility.”
Approximately 174 delegates representing 75 companies, organizations and community groups accompanied Clark on the mission.
This is Clark’s second BC jobs and trade mission, after November’s trip to China and India.
