British Columbia has opened a new trade office in the Philippines as it looks to capitalize on the growing economy in the Southeast Asian country.

Officials including Premier Christy Clark were at the official opening in Manila, as Canada’s western province looks to boost business relations in the region.

The new Trade and Investment Representative Office aims to help Canadian companies do business in the Philippines, and attract Filipino investment in B.C.

B.C. and the Philippines

• More than 135,000 Filipinos live in British Columbia.
• Projected GDP growth of 6.3% puts the Philippines among the world’s fastest-growing economies.
• B.C. is the top provincial exporter to the Philippines, with $190 million in exports in 2015.

“We are positioning B.C. to capitalize on the many opportunities in the Philippines, which has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world,” Clark said.

“The office opening marks a new chapter in B.C.’s relationship with the Philippines, supporting increased flow of goods, services, ideas and people between our two jurisdictions.”

The office is B.C.’s 12^th around the world as it looks to build on the success that means it currently ranks as Canada’s best performing province economically.

B.C.’s 12 trade mission locations

1. Japan
2. South Korea
3. India (3 offices)
4. China (4 offices)
5. Europe
6. United States
7. Philippines

Filipinos are currently the major nationality entering Canada, be it as temporary foreign workers, permanent residents or new citizens.

While the Philippines is far short of the top five when it comes to international student visas, the numbers are growing, from just over 500 in 2005 to a peak of 2,000 in 2013.

Filipinos in Canada

• 40,000 permanent residents (2014)
• 40,000 TFWs (2014)
• 30,000 new citizens (2015)
• 1,800 international students (2014)

During her Philippines trip, Clark met with executives from the Ayala Corporation, a major business which has invested in the booming B.C. real estate market and linked up with several technology firms in the province.

It is hoped Ayala will expand its investment and build a North America head office in Vancouver.

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