Premier Leads Mission to China, Japan

Continuing to build the strong trading relationships the province has built in Asia will lead to increased investment opportunities and more jobs for Nova Scotians.

Premier Stephen McNeil will lead a Nova Scotia delegation to China and Japan, Nov. 10-24, and participate in Atlantic Growth Strategy events with federal ministers and other Atlantic Canadian premiers.

"China is our fastest growing trading partner and we want to strengthen our relationship and lend support to Nova Scotia businesses and educational institutions pursuing the Asian market," said Premier McNeil. "Our efforts in the region are generating positive results and we will continue to look for opportunities so we can grow our economy and create more jobs for Nova Scotians.”

In China, Premier McNeil will meet with the Governors of Shandong, Fujian and Guangdong provinces. He will take part in the Canada-China Business Council Annual General Meeting and attend a tourism roundtable, education and university events and various business meetings.

The province will also celebrate the Nova Scotia art exhibit headed to China in the spring that will feature the works of Maud Lewis. This follows Nova Scotia’s first cultural trade mission to China this past May.

This is Premier McNeil’s sixth mission to Asia. In the last decade, the value of Nova Scotia’s annual exports to China has grown from $54 million to $604 million.

Other highlights of Nova Scotia’s relationship with China include:

• in 2017 seafood exports reached $386 million. This year’s total is tracking higher, with exports up 22 per cent to $344 million for the first eight months, compared to the same period last year
• 15 schools in China offer the Nova Scotia high school curriculum to nearly 3,000 Chinese students each year
• in 2016, Nova Scotia became the first Canadian province to create a formal engagement strategy with China
• Nova Scotia has signed memorandums of understanding with Shandong and Guangdong provinces, two economically dynamic regions that are home to a combined 190 million people

While in Japan, the premier will have business meetings and meet with Ian Burney, ambassador of Canada to Japan, to talk about trade and investment opportunities.

In 2017, exports from Nova Scotia to Japan were valued around $111 million, up from $62 million in 2009. Seafood is the number one export with fruit and nut products coming in second.