Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
VICTORIA – Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson is leading a delegation of over 25 senior executives from B.C.'s forest companies and associations to China, Japan and Korea from Oct. 7 to 18.
This is Thomson's third mission to China and Japan and first to Korea as forests minister.
"I've learned that for Asian markets it's important to establish the government-to-government relationships that allow for the business-to-business relationships to grow, which in turn supports forestry jobs throughout B.C.,” Thomson said.
China is B.C.'s second largest market for softwood lumber products. As part of the continued focus on expanding wood-frame construction, site visits will include stops at building projects in Shanghai and Nanjing.
As well, meetings are planned with government officials in the Province of Jiangsu and with the national ministry of housing and urban development in Beijing to discuss renewing the 2010 memorandum of understanding to promote wood frame construction.
In Japan, delegates will be updated on the progress of the projects built under the $4.6 million Canada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project and participate in the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Council of Forest Industries/Canada Wood office in Japan. Japan is B.C.'s third largest market for softwood lumber products.
In Korea, B.C.'s fifth largest market for softwood lumber products, activities will also focus on promoting wood frame construction. With the signing of the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement, Korea's tariffs on B.C. lumber will be eliminated by 2017. B.C.'s goal is to increase the volume of wood used in Korean wood frame construction by 10% per year.
Opening and expanding markets for B.C.'s goods and services is a pillar of the BC Jobs Plan. Trade missions are a critical part of British Columbia's strategy to strengthen and diversify its international trading partners and secure new investment, propelling economic activity and job creation throughout the province. In June 2014, Premier Christy Clark re-committed Thomson to co-sponsoring annual trade missions to Asia with the forest industry.