News release

Premier Leads Mission to Asia

Premier's Office

Premier Stephen McNeil is leading a delegation to Asia on Tuesday, Sept. 6, to promote trade and investment opportunities with some of Nova Scotia's fastest-growing trading partners.

"This mission will help strengthen our relationship with our second-largest trading partner, China, and with Japan and Korea," said Premier McNeil. "Our goal is to support Nova Scotia businesses and institutions who are active in these markets and to help create jobs in Nova Scotia."

The 11-day mission will visit nine Chinese cities including Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Jinan. Visits to Seoul, South Korea, and Tokyo, Japan, conclude the mission.

The premier is scheduled to meet with business, academic and government officials including the governors of the Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Shandong. He will also meet with international port and airport partners in support of the business goals of the Halifax International Airport Authority and the Halifax Port Authority.

Exports from Nova Scotia to China totalled $420 million in 2015, an increase of more than 50 per cent from 2014. China is Nova Scotia's third largest seafood export market, accounting for $210 million of the province's $1.7 billion in fish and seafood exports.

"This mission continues the direction set out last spring in the Nova Scotia-China Engagement Strategy to focus on our competitive strengths, to strengthen our relationships in China and to ensure a co-ordinated approach," said Premier McNeil. "We are seeing positive outcomes that will result in investment and jobs for Nova Scotians."