By Charlotte Morritt-Jacobs - (@morrittjacobs on Twitter)

Southern Alberta Aims to Increase Chinese Investment

Jul 19, 2016 | 9:52 AM

LETHBRIDGE – Last month delegates from Anyang, China visited Lethbridge to learn about southern Alberta’s educational system.

Continuing this regional partnership, Southern Alberta economic development organizations, representing more than 40 municipalities and hundreds of businesses will host a group of Chinese business owners and investors in October 2016, to further trade relationships.

The four partner groups: Alberta SouthWest Regional Alliance, Economic Development Lethbridge, Lethbridge County and SouthGrow Regional Initiative hosting the event are looking to build on the status of Canada being China’s second-largest trading partner.

“We are well positioned to attract new investment from China and grow our exports of goods and services to China,” said Pete Lovering, Executive Director of the SouthGrow Regional Initiative.

“We also expect more interest in southern Alberta from China-based businesses thanks to a recently-announced direct flight from Beijing to Calgary on Hainan Air, so it is becoming very convenient for people to do business with us.”

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Lovering added that an investment guide translated for Chinese markets will be created from the international trade delegation visit.

The English and Chinese package, produced by Economic Development Lethbridge, will be available online and in print and will be distributed to a number of international trade offices in Canada and China.

“I think businesses in southern Alberta will see increased exposure to the Chinese market through this. The particular area of China that we have targeted, is an area that is very similar with a large agricultural economy and an interest in alternative energy and exchanging products,” he said.

Lovering said that the week-long event will serve as an educational tool for businesses inexperienced in international trade.

By invitation only, the Chinese investors and companies – primarily from the Anyang region in Henan province — will be from the sectors of agriculture, agri-food, renewable energy technologies, clean-technologies and tourism and chosen based on best-fit with the region’s strengths and opportunities.

Interested participants will have the opportunity to list their investment-ready project, opportunity, business, product or service in the material and also become part of the trade delegation meetings and site visits. Additional information is attached.

“These targeted efforts to match the interests of the delegation with those of local and regional businesses should create a value-added experience for all those involved,” said Heather McIntosh-Rivera, Economic Development Lethbridge Director of Business Development.

“The China market is increasingly more open to all types of business interests, from modest to massive.”

The visitors are expected to be in southern Alberta for a week, and in addition to visiting business-focused sites, visitors will also tour hospitality venues.

For more information on enrollment visit: www.southgrow.com.