Industry Sectors
The BC Jobs Plan is about building the future for eight key industries. Each represents a competitive advantage for our province.
With fertile land and abundant water, BC is set to increase local food production and processing, expand domestic and foreign markets and enhance industry competitiveness.
Emerging markets, particularly on the Pacific Rim, will drive demand for our trusted and high-quality foods. The BC Agriculture Industry is composed of two sectors:
- The Agrifoods Sector, which produces traditional products like fruit, cattle and grain; and
- The BC Greenhouse Sector, made up of vegetable and floriculture industries, is known for producing high-value vegetables (predominantly peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers) and a wide range of ornamental plants, including both flowering potted plants and cut flowers.
BC’s forestry industry is on the rebound. Since 2003, when we focused on opening new markets in Asia, exports have grown from $69 million to $687 million per year. We know our market, we have an international reputation as a stable supplier of high-quality wood products, and we offer timber supply security and innovative wood-product technology. READ MORE
British Columbia enjoys a well-deserved reputation for educational excellence. In 2010, 94,000 international students came to British Columbia to study in our Kindergarten – Grade 12, post-secondary and Language Canada schools. It’s a growth industry– so one of the goals we’re working towards is increasing the number of international education students by fifty per cent over the next four years. READ MORE
BC’s mining industry is booming: We have abundant mineral deposits and are well positioned to meet growing global demand. More than half of Canada’s exploration companies are based here, and we employ the world’s highest concentration of mining professionals, geologists, engineers, prospectors, metallurgists, assayers, lawyers, accountants and financiers. READ MORE
BC’s abundant natural gas is creating a whole new sector of industry. Environmentally-responsible liquefied natural gas can create over $1 trillion of economic activity in the next 30 years – and generate thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment for BC businesses. READ MORE
BC’s technology sector develops process innovations, new products and new business models that increase the competitiveness of the province’s other key sectors. As well, developing green technology will allow BC to be greener while bringing these innovations to the world. READ MORE
Our tourism sector provides work for 127,000 British Columbians. Building on the unprecedented worldwide exposure gained by hosting the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, BC’s tourism strategy combines government and tourism industry strengths to support marketing efforts, particularly to increase visitors from countries with large emerging middle classes. We’re also working together to improve air, marine and land border access and international air access to our key markets.
Companies in BC, the United States and Asia look to the Pacific Gateway for quick connections across the Pacific. Vancouver, Kitimat and Prince Rupert are Asia’s closest ports of entry on the West Coast — closer than competing ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach. Steady improvement to ports, rail, roads and airports are key to making our ports the destination of choice. READ MORE
