The Surrey Board of Trade (SBoT) hosted a trade event recently at Sheraton Guildford Hotel in Surrey to highlight the growing global trade that BC is pursuing and expanding the scope for B.C. businesses to increase export avenues around the world. BC Minister of State for Trade Jagrup Brar was the chief guest and presented to the gathered small business crowd all the steps B.C. is taking to increase trade globally as well as within Canada. 

By R. Paul Dhillon – Editor DESIBUZZCanada

SURREY - The Surrey Board of Trade (SBoT) hosted a trade event recently at Sheraton Guildford Hotel in Surrey to highlight the growing global trade that BC is pursuing and expanding the scope for B.C. businesses to increase export avenues around the world. 

BC Minister of State for Trade Jagrup Brar was the chief guest and presented to the gathered small business crowd all the steps B.C. is taking to increase trade globally as well as within Canada. 

Brar in a discussion with SBoT head Anita Huberman-Patel said despite economic challenges due to high inflation and high interest rates, the BC economy has been resilient and remains strong with the highest credit rating and one of lowest unemployment rates in Canada. 

He attributed the focus on global trade, which has gone from $45 billion to $60 billion and domestic trade which is $17 billion in products and $30 billion in services, to keep BC’s economy buzzing along as the global economic situation slowly improves. 

Further discussion by B.C. Trade officials highlighted the aggressive approach to making trade palatable for B.C. businesses by getting global business partners to remove trade barriers as well making it easy to do business for both B.C. and its global trade partners. 

Surrey, which is set to become the biggest city by population in B.C., is also focusing on global markets and is determined to make it a key economic market in BC and Canada and a global tech destination. 

Huberman-Patel said as part of SBot’s efforts around the world, they want to attract international investors to grow Surrey to be the economic powerhouse that it’s set to be. 

There are many BC programs by the provincial government to help B.C. businesses with funding for manufacturing and to increase exposure to their products. Surrey-based South Asian food giant Nanak Foods recently received a large grant for their manufacturing unit.

 So if your company is looking to go global for your products - it’s a great time to do that and there are many provincial and federal resources to help businesses succeed but it still will involve an incredible effort and economic resources.