On the final day of this Jobs and Trade Mission, Premier Christy Clark strengthened the relationship with the Philippines by signing a Joint Communiqué on labour mobility and highlighting the tremendous opportunities and economic partnerships available in British Columbia, such as the new, made-in-B.C. clean energy facility. “The Philippines is an economy on the move and we want to ensure that we are able to partner with them for a strong prosperous future,” said Premier Clark.

“Filipinos have long been a key contributor to B.C.’s growth and prosperity. We hope with this new labour Communiqué we can build and strengthen our labour and economic partnership with the Philippines. We will have a million new job openings by 2020 and will need a strong and stable labour partner, and I am proud to join with the Philippines to help meet that need.”

Premier Clark applauded the announcement by Aquilini Renewable Energy that they received approval from the Philippine Economic Zone Authority to build, operate and manage a $15- million waste-to-energy gasification plant in the City of Mactan in Cebu Province.

In a meeting with Secretary of Labor and Employment, Rosalinda Baldoz, Premier Clark signed a Joint Communiqué on areas of mutual benefits with respect to labour mobility. Later at a Jobs Fair the Premier connected B.C. employers with recruitment agencies and educational institutions to help fill skilled-worker vacancies in the province. Premier Clark also met with Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Albert Del Rosario, to promote British Columbia’s labour market and emphasize strong
cultural ties with the Philippines.

“Our first priority is always to find employment for British Columbians, but with so many jobs to fill in the next decade, we know that new immigrants will be key to maintaining the growth of our economy,” said Premier Clark.

Quick Facts:
* The Philippines is set to become the 16thlargest economy in the world by 2050. (HSBC)
* The Philippines has been one of the top four source countries of temporary foreign workers in B.C. since 2000.
* Since 2010, the Philippines has been B.C.’s second-largest source country for permanent residents.
* The Philippines is our number-one source of Provincial Nominees - 432 in 2011.
* Since 2001 the Provincial Nominee Program has assisted 1,960 skilled and semi-skilled workers obtain permanent resident visas.

 

Click the images below to enlarge

Photo by Photos by Chris Cunanan

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•  

< Prev		Next >