Victoria tourism and business will see a boost following the a multi-faceted trade expedition to China and Japan, according to Mayor Lisa Helps.
B次元官网网址淢ission accomplished,B次元官网网址� she said, noting that the overseas meetings facilitated export opportunities for local businesses that will benefit the local economy.
Business deals are already in the works following the 10-day export-based trade mission last month.
B次元官网网址淚f Victoria-based companies export goods and services to China, that means theyB次元官网网址檙e growing their business here, it creates jobs here, creates more income here, and that was really the main focus of the mission,B次元官网网址� Helps said.
In China, 2018 has been named the B次元官网网址淵ear of Canadian Tourism.B次元官网网址� Helps expects to see more visitors following Tourism VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 presentation at Destination Canada Showcase Asia.
B次元官网网址淲e will tangibly see more tourists coming to Victoria, which is really good for local business,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭ourists want to do what the locals do. As the tourism economy grows, the coffee shops will grow, the restaurants will grow, the experiential tourism opportunities will grow, like cycling, like walking tours.B次元官网网址�
Another highlight for Helps was the opportunity to get Shanghai on board with VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 bid for the Canadian Smart Cities Challenge.
The initiative makes available funding from the federal government for cities that use technology and data to solve such regional problems as transportation, environment and housing, as well as to improve a cityB次元官网网址檚 livability. Grants range from $5 million to $50 million, depending on city size.
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Dallas Gislason is economic development officer with the South Island Prosperity Project, which facilitated meetings during the trade mission between Asian business officials and those from Greater Victoria. Improving relationships with China makes sense, he said, given its standing as B.C.B次元官网网址檚 second-largest trading partner after the U.S.
B次元官网网址淣AFTA is in negotiations right now, and we have an administration in the U.S. thatB次元官网网址檚 very nationalistic and protective,B次元官网网址� Gislason said. B次元官网网址淭his presents a good case for us to help our economy.B次元官网网址�
Anecdotally, he added, of the eight Victoria-area businesses that made the trip B次元官网网址� some representatives paid their own way while others were sponsored by their companies B次元官网网址� all of them felt it was a worthwhile investment.
