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LBT to Participate in Vancouver Green Capital Business Mission to China

14th September 2010

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Mayor Gregor Robertson announced today that he will be leading a major business mission to China this month, with the goal of attracting new jobs and investment to Vancouver. “This business mission to China will deliver real results for Vancouver – we’ve spent months preparing and we are confident we can secure a number of business deals that will directly benefit our region,” said Mayor Robertson. “We’ll be capitalizing on our momentum from the 2010 Winter Games by highlighting some of our top green businesses from Vancouver. China has set aggressive goals to promote low-carbon economic development and there is a huge opportunity for us to foster closer connections between Vancouver’s leading technology companies and the emerging green economy in China.”

The Vancouver Green Capital Business Mission has been developed over the last several months by the Vancouver Economic Development Commission (VEDC), the City of Vancouver, government agencies like NRC-IRAP, agencies like the Canadian Trade Service, private sector partners like Cleanworks, Lighthouse Sustainable Building Centre, RBC, and companies from the Metro Vancouver Commerce Program. Previous Vancouver Mayors have visited China but did not focus on promoting Vancouver’s economy.

22 local businesses have been selected by the VEDC to participate in the business mission. They represent three of Vancouver’s fastest growing and most innovative sectors: clean technology, green building, and digital media. Delegates will take part in several one-on-one business meetings with Chinese executives and government agencies, as well as showcasing their technologies to potential partners.

“The Vancouver Green Capital Mission will especially focus on business matching and investment opportunities, similar to what Vancouver did during the 2010 Games,” said Lee Malleau, CEO of the Vancouver Economic Development Commission. “This is another ideal opportunity to use a major global event as a platform to promote bilateral trade, which leads to additional investment and employment growth, especially with one of the fastest growing markets on the planet. We are helping our Vancouver companies deepen the connections they made during the Olympics, and make new ones that will generate similar results.”

Mayor Robertson has made economic development a top priority while in office. With a background in business, he has worked to have City Hall assist where it can in supporting local businesses. This kind of support is needed and is appreciated, says Jeanette Jackson, CEO of Light-Based Technologies:

“With its mandate to move towards solid-state lighting, huge infrastructure programs and rapid development, there is a massive opportunity for our energy efficient control technology to make inroads in China’s solid state lighting industry. Vancouver is developing a reputation as the ‘green capital’ and by meeting with companies in China, we can strengthen our own business at home.”

The Vancouver Green Capital Business Mission will coincide with Vancouver Day at the Shanghai Expo. Vancouver is one of only three cities from North America with a stand-alone pavilion at the World Expo.