Looking east to fuel the west, Premier Christy Clark touted B.C.’s natural resources, competitive taxes, a highly skilled workforce and a million job openings by 2020 in three Asian nations during her whirlwind trade mission that ended last weekend.

“Our government is committed to growing our economy to create jobs for British Columbians,” said Premier Clark. “We want Korean investors to know that B.C. is open for business,” she said in Seoul.

“We are unlocking our natural resources by making key investments in transportation infrastructure. We have already committed to having one LNG pipeline and terminal online by 2015 and three in operation by 2020, and we are supporting our mining sector with a commitment to open at least eight new mines and upgrade at least nine mines by 2015.”

Premier Clark also highlighted the growing biomass trading relationship with Korea. “I am particularly pleased to see that our biomass industry is helping Korea meet their clean-energy targets,” said Premier Clark. “Today we have two great B.C. companies, Nelson Bio-energy and Princeton Co-Generation Company, announcing that they will be supplying and shipping some 6,000 tonnes of B.C. wood pellets to Korea Welds Company in 2012. This is the start of a great commercial relationship that means jobs for British Columbians with growth already planned for 2013.” 

For her final day in Korea, Premier Clark began by hosting, along with B.C. mining delegates, a B.C. Mining Roundtable at which she spoke to Korean corporations with investment interests in B.C.’s mining and natural gas sectors. Premier Clark applauded their growing role in developing new projects, including POSCO’s recent $181-million investment in the Mount Klappan metallurgical coal project in northwest B.C. 

“This is why we are here - to tell investors that British Columbia’s economy is on the move and now is the time to get in on the action,” said Premier Clark. “We’ve got all the right conditions for growth and one of the key sectors in the BC Jobs Plan is mining, which is an extremely important sector because it creates high-paying jobs that support families.”

In 2011, more than 29,000 people were employed in mineral exploration, mining and related sectors, and most of those jobs are located in rural B.C. By 2020 there will be an expected 10,000 additional job openings in those sectors, which is more great news for B.C. families.

More than 850 mining companies are already located in British Columbia. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, mining in B.C. generated $9.9 billion in gross revenues in 2011, up $2 billion from $7.9 billion in 2010. 

In the past year, B.C. has permitted five mines for expansion, as well as five new mines, including Copper Mountain Mine, which began production in June 2011, and four others announced under Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan - Mount Milligan by Prince George, New Afton by Kamloops, Barkerville by Quesnel and Red Chris by Dease Lake in northwest B.C. 

The BC Jobs Plan aims to increase annual revenue from mining operations by $1.6 billion, create and sustain more than 15,000 direct and indirect well-paying jobs in B.C. and contribute more than $150 million a year towards government revenue.

The Premier then met with Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) to recognize their recent investments in B.C.’s natural gas industry. In February 2010, KOGAS signed an agreement to invest up to $565 million in developing gas plays at Kiwigana (Horn River basin) and West Cutbank (Montney) in northeastern B.C. Then, on Tuesday, KOGAS, in partnership with Shell Canada Limited, Mitsubishi Corporation, and PetroChina Company Limited announced that they will jointly develop an LNG export facility near Kitimat, called LNG Canada.

In a bilateral meeting with Korea’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Premier Clark promoted B.C’s green-energy sources and discussed areas for co-operation in bioenergy, hydrogen and fuel cell technology and green buildings. 

Finally, Premier Clark met with Mr. Joon-Yang Chung, chairman and CEO of POSCO, to recognize POSCO’s investments in British Columbia. Based in Korea, POSCO is the world’s third-largest steel maker, Asia’s most profitable steel maker, and fourth-largest Korean company, with global sales of over $62 billion. 

POSCO’s Canadian operations are based in Vancouver - it is the largest Korean company in B.C., with annual exports of over $500 million. In addition to the Mount Klappen project, the company also has a 20-per-cent stake in Greenhills Mine near Elkford and a 2.5-per-cent stake in Elkview Mine in Sparwood.

On the final day of her Jobs and Trade Mission to Asia, Premier Christy Clark urged Filipinos to look at B.C. as a strong and stable labour partner.

“Filipinos have long been a key contributor to B.C.’s growth and prosperity. We hope with this new labour Communiqué we can build and strengthen our labour and economic partnership with the Philippines. We will have a million new job openings by 2020 and will need a strong and stable labour partner, and I am proud to join with the Philippines to help meet that need.”

While in Japan, the Premier met with government and business officials to explore opportunities in the natural gas, forestry, technology, and mining sectors.

Having sufficient numbers of workers to fill jobs in B.C. is a major concern for employers, and immigration is one of the most important avenues to attract workers. Canada Starts Here: the BC Jobs Plan commits to promoting economic development in key sectors and attracting more workers. Filling existing job vacancies faster will enable employers to operate more efficiently, and allow them to create more jobs for B.C. families.

Premier Clark departed Vancouver May 12, 2012 for the mission to Japan, Korea and the Philippines, following a successful mission last November to China and India.

 The jobs and trade mission is aimed at maintaining the province’s strong economic momentum and strengthening relationships with Japan, Korea and the Philippines.