ONE of the largest professional networking conferences for entrepreneurs will be taking place in Santa Clara in California, drawing leaders from all over the world.

The Indus Entrepreneurs Conference 2015 (TiEcon) will host over 4,000 senior technology professionals and representatives from over 22 countries. TiEcon 2015 takes place from May 15-16 and features over 170 speakers on topics ranging from data economy to cloud and security, and health care to oil and gas.

Over these two days, Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services Amrik Virk will be building and strengthening relationships with representatives from technology companies, venture capital firms, and service providers from around the world.

He will also take part in the Visionary Circle event, bringing government leaders, ambassadors and high-tech executives together to discuss the importance of creating partnerships for economic growth.

TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) is a non-profit association dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking and education. Founded in 1992 in Silicon Valley by a group of successful entrepreneurs, corporate executives and senior professionals, they have over 14,000 members spread across 18 countries. TiEcon is TiE’s biggest event, held every spring in Santa Clara, California. The conference brings together the entrepreneurial community to learn from local and global leaders.

The B.C. brand is recognized world-wide, with over 9,000 technology businesses and large manufacturing companies, such as Hootsuite and Microsoft, choosing to call British Columbia their home. It is important to continue to highlight and facilitate positive partnerships between the global thinkers and influencers, which are critical for B.C.’s economy and creating jobs.

To keep our economy diverse, strong and growing, since Sept 2011 the BC Jobs Plan has been building on the strengths of our province’s most competitive sectors using our educated and skilled workforce.

Virk said: “It is important that we prepare our province to take advantage of our rapidly expanding technology sector. Through B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, our competitive tax environment and strengthened partnerships with industry – the future of B.C.’s tech industry is bright. That is why an event like the TiEcon is important for our province to be a part of, as it connects us to industry’s global leaders.”

Venktesh Shukla, President of TiE, Silicon Valley, said: “TiEcon is where the world’s wealth connects with technology entrepreneurs to create an energizing environment for start-ups to take off. It is the “Burning Man” of entrepreneurship, and brings together Silicon Valley’s diverse, dynamic, and expert ecosystem to ignite disruptive technology innovation.”

Mateen Syed, Chair, Visionary Circle, TiEcon 2015, said: “In the 22nd edition of TiEcon, we started ‘Visionary Circle’ – a new initiative to invite Government Leaders, Ambassadors and Consuls General representing countries focused on empowering entrepreneurial ecosystems, and C-Suite Executives of high growth tech companies – to connect and create economic opportunities. We are excited to have Amrik Virk at TiEcon, along with the delegation of the Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services. They represent the great Canadian Province of British Columbia’s spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial driven policies.”