Minister Jeff Leal and Minister Michael Chan announced they will be leading a trade mission to China in April 2015. The mission will focus on increasing opportunities for Ontario's agriculture and agri-food sector in the Chinese market.
The mission will build on the success of Ontario's agri-food exporters in China and introduce a new group of companies to this important market. It will also support and strengthen government-to-government and business-to-business connections created during Premier Wynne's successful 2014 China Trade Mission.
The trip will run from April 16th to 25th, 2015 and will include visits to Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Shouguang and Hong Kong.
The mission is part of Ontario's Going Global Trade Strategy to help the province's businesses - particularly small- to medium- sized enterprises - expand into priority markets such as China.
Helping Ontario's agri-food businesses compete globally is part of the government's plan for Ontario. The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people's talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.
Quick Facts
- China has a population of 1.3 billion, approximately 20 per cent of the world’s population.
- China is Ontario’s second-largest trading partner, next to the United States. In 2014, Ontario’s two-way trade totalled CND $36.4 billion, up 14 per cent from 2013.
- Ontario’s total agri-food sales for 2014 to China, including exports to Hong Kong, reached $832 million, representing Ontario’s second-largest export market for agri-food products.
- Ontario currently exports a variety of products to China including wines, confectionery products, frozen products, shelf-stable foods, beverages and snack foods.
- The last Ontario agri-food trade mission to China took place in January 2013.
Source: OMAFRA