Minister's Asia Tour 2008

Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon led a delegation of private and public sector partners on a two-week mission to promote trade through Canada’s Pacific Gateway transportation network.

During the June 13-27 trip to Beijing, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore and Dubai, the Minister and partners promoted B.C. as the preferred gateway for two-way trade between Asia and North America.

Pacific Gateway Mission to Asia and Dubai
Friday, June 13, 2008

Our two-week mission promoted British Columbia as Canada's Pacific Gateway to and from Asia, and provided an opportunity to explore international transportation best practices. We met with business and industry leaders in five countries to promote Canada's Pacific Gateway and stronger business links with China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

The message we took with us to these destinations is that for Asian shippers, British Columbia has the most competitive port system and the closest ports of entry on the west coast of the Americas.

British Columbia leads North America in developing highly successful public-private partnerships and Canada’s Pacific Gateway is a good example of a unique partnership between public and private sectors. The Pacific Gateway Executive Committee, made up of government and industry partners, oversees the $15 billion expansion of port, rail, road and airports facilities. Pacific Gateway Executive Committee members participating in the Asia trip include:

CN
CP Railway
British Columbia Railway Company
BNSF Railway
The Prince Rupert Port Authority
The Metro Vancouver Port Authority
Vancouver International Airport Authority
Transport Canada
Department of International Trade

Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon answers questions from the media prior to departing Vancouver International Airport for Asia. From left to right: Steve Hall, General Manager, Bombardier Canada, Minister Falcon, and Kevin Mahoney, President and CEO, British Columbia Railway Company.

Pacific Gateway Mission to
Asia and Dubai
Monday, June 16
Beijing

Our first stop was Beijing, where we took a demonstration ride on the new Airport Link, the rapid transit service to Terminal 3 at the Beijing airport, which opened in July. The Beijing Airport Link uses Bombardier’s Advanced Rapid Transit (ART) technology pioneered on Vancouver’s award-winning SkyTrain system at Expo ‘86.

Jianwei Zhang, President and Chief Country Representative of Bombardier China, and Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon exchanged gifts after a luncheon hosted by Bombardier.

Minister Falcon and Jianwei Zhang, President and Chief Country Representative, Bombardier China, after the demonstration ride and tour of the new station at Terminal 3 in Beijing.

Like SkyTrain, the Beijing Link combines British Columbia technology with Bombardier know how. It is part of British Columbia’s leadership in transportation technology, infrastructure and services. Beijing’s Airport link also features the latest in linear induction motor technology, a propulsion system made in British Columbia. This is truly a B.C. technology success story.

Terminal 3 and the new ART technology.

Pacific Gateway Mission to
Asia and Dubai
Tuesday, June 17
Beijing

Our second day in Beijing included a meeting with Chinese Olympic Games (BOCOG) officials to learn about the development of their overall Olympic transportation system, and a visit to the B.C. Canada Pavilion, built for the Beijing Olympics to showcase Canadian business, tourism and culture. We took advantage of the pavilion's business facilities and held a well attended, high-level roundtable meeting with Canadian and Chinese business and industry leaders to promote B.C. as Canada's preferred gateway for trade and goods movement between Asia and North America. After the roundtable meeting, our delegation and Chinese guests enjoyed a tour of the B.C. Canada Pavilion.

Deputy Minister John Dyble and
Vancouver's 2010 mascots.

Beijing Pacific Gateway Executive Committee Roundtable Meeting at the B.C. Canada Pavilion.

Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon (background) and Deputy Minister John Dyble (foreground) meet B.C. Canada Pavilion staff during the pavilion tour.

Minister Falcon admires the First Nations section of the B.C. Canada Pavilion.

Pacific Gateway Mission to
Asia and Dubai
June 18 & 19
Hong Kong

ATL Logistics Centre, a multi-level logistics and warehousing facility operated by DP World in Hong Kong, June 18, 2008.

In Hong Kong, we talked about how Canada’s Pacific Gateway can help build on the links between Canada and Hong Kong. Thousands of people from Hong Kong live in Canada – half a million in total. And more than a quarter of a million Canadian passport holders live in Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s economic success has been built on international trade and that’s what we focussed on here. Events included a meeting with Cathay Pacific, a meeting and tour of multi-level logistics facility ATL Logistics run by DP World, and on June 19 we hosted a roundtable meeting with business and industry leaders in Hong Kong.

Roundtable guests in Hong Kong, June 19, 2008.

Pacific Gateway Mission to
Asia and Dubai
Friday, June 20
Hanoi, Vietnam

Our visit to Vietnam was the first official visit by a B.C. Government Minister to this emerging Asian economic power.

On the morning of June 20, we hosted a Pacific Gateway Executive Committee Roundtable meeting with business and industry leaders in Hanoi. In the afternoon separate meetings were held with Vietnam's Minister of Transportation and Minister of Planning and Investment to update them on British Columbia's progress in expanding and upgrading the Pacific Gateway network of seaports, airports, railways and roadways.

Pacific Gateway delegation in front of the Ministry of Planning and Investment in Hanoi

Gateway Executive Committee Roundtable in Hanoi on June 20, 2008

Meeting with the Vietnamese Ministry of Transportation in Hanoi

Minister Falcon and Vo Hong Phuc, Minister of Planning and Investment in Hanoi

Pacific Gateway Mission to
Asia and Dubai
Saturday, June 21
Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon), Vietnam

In Ho Chi Minh on Saturday, our Pacific Gateway Executive Committee Roundtable meeting to promote British Columbia as Canada's Pacific Gateway to North America to Vietnamese business and industry leaders was well attended. With Vietnam experiencing rapid economic growth and development of its export industries, Canada's Pacific Gateway could provide Vietnamese shippers with significant advantages and achieve even greater future success that will benefit both Vietnam and Canada.

Ho Chi Minh Pacific Gateway Executive Roundtable Meeting

Pacific Gateway Mission to
Asia and Dubai
June 23 & 24
Singapore

After Vietnam, we headed to Singapore to strengthen our two-way trade links and promote B.C. as Canada's Pacific Gateway to North America. Singapore is a dynamic and growing economy poised for continued success in the coming decades and is home to the world's largest port. On Monday, we met with Canpotex, Singapore Airlines, APL, and hosted a Pacific Gateway Executive Committee Roundtable meeting with Singapore business and industry leaders. These meetings also provided an opportunity to listen to the needs, goals and concerns of current and future Pacific Gateway customers.

Singapore Pacific Gateway Executive Committee Roundtable Meeting.

On Tuesday, we met with the Singapore Port Authority and toured the world's largest port - the highly effective Port of Singapore. This gave us an opportunity promote the Pacific Gateway and explore best practices for international transportation and logistics.

Port of Singapore tour

After touring the port, we toured Container Warehousing Transportation Limited (CWT), a multi-level warehousing and logistics facility. Multi-level facilities like these maximize the use of industrial land for logistics handling.

Tour of Container Warehousing Transportation Limited in Singapore

Pacific Gateway Mission to
Asia and Dubai
June 25 & 26
Dubai

On the last leg of our trip we visited Dubai to promote B.C. as Canada's Pacific Gateway to Canada and the United States. Dubai is growing very rapidly and using innovative technology. We met with several different companies such as DP World and EZ World, Limitless, Istithmar World, and Dubai Maritime City to highlight the Pacific Gateway and promote new business relationships.

Meetings in Dubai to promote B.C. as Canada's Pacific Gateway.

On Wednesday we met with Dubai Ports Worldwide (DP World) and toured Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone. The port is growing rapidly and uses cranes that can handle four 20-foot containers at a time. DP World runs the Centerm Terminal in Vancouver.

Meeting and tour of Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone in Dubai..

During the two-week trip, we told our Pacific Gateway story, highlighted British Columbian technology and expertise, listened to our current and future customers and formed potential new business relationships. It was a productive and insightful journey.

Meeting and tour of Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone in Dubai..