As Canada’s Pacific Gateway, British Columbia has a historical relationship with Asia, with strong economic, educational and community ties that continue to the present day.
- In 2008, 30 per cent of British Columbia’s total exports went to Asia-Pacific countries and India, compared to 23 per cent in 1999. (Source: Industry Canada, Trade Data Online)
- 22 per cent of B.C.’s population identified itself as Asian during the 2006 census, and British Columbia was the destination of about one-quarter of all Asia-Pacific immigrants to Canada from 2002 to 2006. (Sources: Statistics Canada 2006 census, Ministry of the Attorney General, Citizenship and Immigration Canada)
- Each Year, more than 140,000 international students chose to study in British Columbia.
- In 2007, B.C. hosted over half of all tourists from the Asia Pacific to Canada, including those going to other provinces through Canada’s Pacific Gateway. (Source: Tourism BC)
The launch of the Asia-Pacific Initiative in spring 2007 marked B.C.’s commitment to build on this inheritance and realize an unprecedented opportunity – to drive B.C.’s economic prosperity for decades by increasing trade, investment and knowledge collaboration with the global economic drivers of the 21st century: China, India, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia.
The Asia-Pacific Initiative is made up of five key strategies:
- Build a global identity for Canada’s Pacific Gateway.
- Strengthen B.C.’s trade and investment relationships.
- Develop a world-class supply chain and gateway infrastructure.
- Develop and attract a labour force that has Pacific Century skills.
- Position B.C. as North America’s Asia-Pacific destination.
British Columbia's business community has been at the forefront of our drive to strengthen B.C.’s trade and investment links with the Asia Pacific, particularly in the form of the Asia Pacific Trade Council, a group of senior business leaders appointed by the Premier to make recommendations to the Province on its approach to key markets in Asia.
Implementing three core lines of business across Asia and in B.C. is helping the Province support the activities of its business community and achieve the goals set out in the Asia-Pacific Initiative:
- Asia-Pacific Business Connections – includes rollout of a network of B.C. trade and investment representative offices in Asia, programs to strengthen economic relationships between communities, and programs to strengthen B.C.’s relationship with influential individuals, business leaders and government officials.
- Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Development – includes implementing an aggressive program of government and business missions between B.C. and Asia.
- Asia-Pacific Visible Presence and Partnerships – includes establishing an Asia-Pacific Business Centre at Robson Square in Vancouver and ongoing implementation of the B.C. International Marketing Strategy.
