THE Premier’s trade mission to Asia is bringing back new opportunities to grow a stronger, more diversified economy and create good jobs throughout the province.
The 10-day economic tour promoted British Columbia’s strengths as a reliable trade partner that has what the world needs – from critical minerals and clean energy, to forestry and agriculture products, and the ports to deliver them.
“This mission was about supporting B.C. jobs and building a British Columbia that will be the economic engine of a more independent Canada,” said Premier David Eby on Wednesday. “Our trade relationships with the Indo-Pacific are exceptionally important right now, as we work to diversify our markets and become less reliant on the United States. B.C. has a lot of advantages – our proximity to Asia, our abundance of natural resources, our talented and diverse workforce. These are all things that the world needs, and it was a great opportunity to showcase that to key trade partners.”
During the mission, which included stops in Japan, Malaysia and South Korea, Eby was accompanied by Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food, and Paul Choi, parliamentary secretary for Asia-Pacific trade.
Representatives from 19 B.C. companies, universities and associations were part of the business delegation. The trade mission focused on strengthening relationships with governments, business leaders and investors, as well as promoting B.C.’s strengths in key sectors, such as clean energy, technology, wood and wood products, agrifood and critical minerals.
Many of the meetings focused on B.C.’s plans to work with Japan, Malaysia and South Korea to support their energy transitions through opportunities in clean energy. For example, Premier Eby met with the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) to follow up on a renewed memorandum of understanding signed in 2023, and explore ways to grow trade and unlock new sources of energy, such as hydrogen. In Malaysia, he met with Petronas to discuss opportunities in clean energy, such as wind power and green mobility and liquefied natural gas (LNG), with exports from B.C. to Asia beginning this summer. In South Korea, he met with Samsung E&A to discuss additional business opportunities in carbon capture, utilization and storage technology with B.C.
The mission also focused on promoting B.C.’s safe and sustainable agrifoods products. Popham met with more than 20 influential agrifoods retailers, wholesalers, regulators and importers, including Costco Japan and Sojitz Foods in Japan, Halal Development Corporation in Malaysia, and Daesang and Emart Traders in South Korea.
“The one constant I heard in Japan, Malaysia and South Korea is how respected and trusted B.C. is as a source for high-quality food,” Popham said. “I was proud to build relationships and share the stories behind our province’s food. There was lots of excitement about bringing more B.C. products overseas, and I look forward to seeing the results.”
Advancing information sharing and knowledge exchange was also a key component of the mission. Multiple agreements were signed between B.C. and Korean universities. For example, the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University signed memorandums of understanding with Pohang University of Science and Technology to promote joint research, faculty and student exchanges and collaborative innovation.
“We are extremely confident that our trade mission to Japan, Malaysia and South Korea will strengthen existing relationships and generate new opportunities across the region,” Choi said. “British Columbia has a highly efficient network of trade and investment representatives throughout Asia, as well as the products and services that the growing Asian economies need. We will continue to promote our advantages as a key trading partner with our friends in the Asia-Pacific region to grow our trade presence there.”
The mission is part of B.C.’s Trade Diversification Strategy, which outlines actions to increase trade and investment opportunities in existing markets, such as Japan and South Korea, as well as in new and emerging markets, such as Malaysia.
Quick Facts:
* Japan and South Korea are B.C.’s third- and fourth-largest export markets, respectively.
* Top B.C. exports to South Korea and Japan include steel-making coal and copper.
* Malaysia is an emerging market for B.C., with $162 million in exports in 2024, and is an important partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Summary of announcements, agreements reached
* T’Way Airlines and Vancouver International Airport – Korea’s T’way Airlines is launching a new seasonal, non-stop service to Vancouver, starting July 12, 2025. Flights will run until October, and will depart four times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturday and Sundays. This marks the first-ever Korean low-cost carrier to operate on this route, bringing more affordable travel options.
* University of British Columbia (UBC) and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) – The memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Student Mobility Agreement between UBC and POSTECH, one of South Korea’s leading science and engineering universities, serves as a framework to promote joint research, faculty and student exchanges, as well as collaborative innovation.
* Simon Fraser University (SFU) Global Institute for Agritech and Seoul National University (SNU) BK21 Global Smart Farm Educational Research Centre – The MOU focuses on knowledge-sharing and strengthening research collaboration. This new partnership will further an opportunity to bring valuable insights back to British Columbia, potentially aiding local farmers in growing and exporting new crops.
* SFU Global Institute of Agritech and POSTECH BK21 Advanced Materials Research Program – The MOU between SFU Global Institute of Agritech and POSTECH BK21 Advanced Materials Research Program promotes collaboration on academic and research activities, including scholarly publications, exchange of researchers, development of collaborative research programs.
Highlights of B.C.’s trade mission to Asia
Japan
The B.C. trade mission met with:
* Ambassador of Canada to Japan Ian McKay, to discuss Canada-Japan trade and investment opportunities for B.C.
* Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, to discuss ongoing co-operation in energy, mineral resources, digital technologies and industry-academia joint research.
* Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to reaffirm B.C.’s role as Canada’s gateway to Japan and major contributor of food and energy security.
* Japan Bank for International Cooperation, to discuss future investments related to LNG, energy transition fuels, and supporting infrastructure.
* Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security to follow up on a renewed memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in 2023 to explore ways to grow trade and unlock new sources of energy, such as hydrogen.
* Itochu Corporation, Japan’s second-largest trading company, to discuss B.C.’s energy and steel-making coal exports and emphasize the strategic importance of the Port of Prince Rupert.
* Marubeni Corporation, to explore the potential to develop low-carbon ammonia supply.
* Mitsubishi Corporation to discuss the company’s investment in B.C. energy and mining projects, and technology companies.
* Nippon Steel, which set up a Vancouver office in 2024, to discuss the company’s B.C. operations and potential future growth and investment.
* Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. Ltd., to discuss its current investments in B.C. mining and clean technology, and explore future opportunities.
* Costco Japan, one of B.C.’s most valuable agrifood partners, to discuss opportunities to carry more B.C. food products in Japan.
Malaysia
The B.C. trade mission met with:
* High Commissioner of Canada in Malaysia Jodi Robinson to discuss Malaysia-Canada relations.
* Deputy minister of investment, trade and industry Liew Chin Tong on tariff response and to highlight B.C. as a trade diversification partner for Malaysia.
* Deputy minister at Ministry of Agriculture and Food to discuss Halal certification process in Malaysia, B.C. agrifood capabilities and related export opportunities.
* Minister of Digital Industry Gobind Singh Deo, to discuss Malaysia’s digitalization strategy, the role of the digital supercluster in B.C., and the upcoming Malaysia Smart Nation Expo.
* Khazanah to discuss investments in energy, infrastructure, information and communications technology and transportation.
* Petronas, a 25% owner of the LNG Canada project, to discuss shipments beginning in summer 2025 and opportunities in clean energy, such as wind power and green mobility.
* Halal Development Corporation, to discuss Halal food regulation and development of the sector in Malaysia.
South Korea
The B.C. trade mission met with:
* Ambassador of Canada to Korea Tamara Mawhinney and senior trade commissioner John Zimmerman at the Embassy of Canada to discuss B.C.’s political and economic priorities and opportunities through the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement.
* Governor of Gyeonggi Province Dong Yeon Kim to discuss progress on the enhanced fourth action plan and show appreciation for organizing a delegation of businesses to attend Web Summit Vancouver.
* Korea Gas Corporation to celebrate the anticipated first shipment of LNG from LNG Canada and explore additional areas of opportunity for investment.
* Samsung E&A to discuss additional business opportunities in carbon capture, utilization and storage technology in B.C.
* Hanwha Ocean, a major South Korean shipbuilder, to discuss broader trade and investment collaboration.
* Daesang, a leading Korean food conglomerate, to discuss its plans to open a B.C. branch to ties and collaborate with Canadian suppliers and researchers.
* Nexton, which specializes in indoor vertical farming, irrigation, LED and data systems, to discuss its newly opened B.C. office and its plans to partner with B.C. research universities.
* Emart Traders, a leading warehouse retailer, to discuss how B.C. exporters can use Emart as a platform to build brand presence in Korea’s retail market.
