Hangzhou, China - 7 November 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that Canada will open new trade offices in the Chinese cities of Hangzhou, Xi'an, Xiamen and Tianjin. This will help Canadian businesses flourish in some of the fastest growing regions of China with a view to generating jobs and economic growth back home. The Prime Minister made the announcement during his visit to China, from November 5 to 10, 2014.
The four new offices, established in collaboration with the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), will expand Canada's trade network in China, bringing it to a total of 15 locations across the country.
Canadian trade offices in China have proven especially effective in helping Canadian businesses – especially small- and medium-sized enterprises – find the opportunities and contacts necessary to successfully export to China, Canada's second-largest trading partner.
Hangzhou in the east, Xi'an in central China, Xiamen in the southeast, and Tianjin in the northeast are located in some of China's fastest-growing regions. These cities and regions were selected because their needs match Canadian strengths, particularly in the areas of information technology, electronics, automotive, aerospace, medicine, energy and finance sectors.
China is a priority market in Canada's Global Markets Action Plan, which aims to help Canadian companies succeed abroad. The Government of Canada is supporting companies through tools and services made available through new trade offices, the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service, Export Development Canada, the Business Development Bank of Canada and the CCC.