Alberta to grow trade opportunities with Asia

 
 
Download 133K pdf file ("NR Olson Asia Final.pdf")PDF
(133K)
     Subscribe to our free E-Newsletter, "Agri-News" (formerly RTW This Week)Agri-News
This Week
 
 
 
 May 14, 2014

Related Information | Media Inquiries


Agriculture Minister Verlyn Olson, along with a delegation representing Alberta businesses, will meet with Asian officials and industry leaders to expand trade and investment opportunities.

Minister Olson will be in Japan, China and Singapore May 18 to 30 to further Alberta’s economic prospects.

“Asia is a priority market for our export-oriented agricultural sector and last year our agri-food exports to China and Japan were $2.8 billion. We need to ensure that these markets remain strong and continue to grow. We are also home to the world’s third-largest oil reserve and we welcome global investment as it fuels Alberta’s and Canada’s economic engine.”
- Verlyn Olson, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

More than a dozen representatives from Alberta’s agriculture sector and oil and gas industry are participating in the trip, including Providence Grain Solutions, a grain handling and value-added processing company with locations throughout the province.

“We have taken part in previous Government of Alberta trade missions to Asia and I can’t overstate how important this growing market is. This is a tremendous opportunity for smaller and producer-owned companies to meet the end-user and establish a strong relationship.”
- Milt Miller, president of Providence Grain Solutions

Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, which represents Canada’s largest hydrocarbon processing region and anticipates this year’s planned capital investments to exceed $20 billion, is also participating in the mission.

“Asian-based firms have been asking about opportunities in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. We want to attract investment from companies which will add value to our natural resources and this is a tremendous opportunity for us to get our foot in the door.”
- Wayne Woldanski, chair of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland

Under the Building Alberta Plan, our government is investing in families and communities, living within our means, and opening new markets for Alberta's resources to ensure we're able to fund the services Albertans told us matter most to them. We will continue to deliver the responsible change Albertans voted for.


Backgrounder

Itinerary for Minister Olson *

May 18 Depart for Tokyo, Japan
May 19 Arrive in Tokyo
May 20 Meet with Canadian Embassy, industry stakeholders
May 21 Meet with Japanese companies
May 22 Travel to Guangzhou, China and meet with Canadian Consulate
May 23 Speak at Doing Business with Alberta Seminar and meet with Guangdon Department of Commerce and industry stakeholders. Travel to Hong Kong
May 24 Attend the Canadian Chamber of Commerce dinner
May 25 Rest day
May 26 Speak at Doing Business in Alberta Seminar and meet with
Canada’s Consul General to Hong Kong
May 27 Meet with beef importers. Travel to Singapore
May 28 Meet with Canadian High Commission and grain traders
May 29 Meet with Food Industry Asia
May 30 Depart Singapore

*Itinerary is subject to change

The estimated cost for travel, meals, and accommodation for Minister Olson and one staff member, including reception and hosting expenses, is $35,500.


Related Information
Alberta’s Agriculture Opportunities
Invest in Alberta

Media Inquiries
Julie Crilly
Julie.Crilly@gov.ab.ca
780-782-5866
Press Secretary
Agriculture and Rural Development
 
 
 
 
Share via AddThis.com
For more information about the content of this document, contact Kelly Bernard.
This information published to the web on May 14, 2014.
Last Reviewed/Revised on May 15, 2015.