Transformative Connections: Highlights from B.C. Week 2024

Building on last year’s successful B.C. Week event, the Trade and Invest British Columbia (B.C.) team in South Korea hosted an amazing B.C. Week event from October 29-31, 2024 at the Embassy of Canada in Seoul, South Korea. Fostering connection and conversation, 34 B.C. companies and 23 B.C./South Korean partnering organizations and companies, came together over the course of the 3-day event. Highlighting B.C. as an attractive place for trade and investment, B.C. Week was an extraordinary event which highlighted the opportunities for business ventures between South Korea and British Columbia.

Day 1 Agrifood and Consumer Goods

The first day of B.C. Week was focused on British Columbia’s natural and organic agrifood and consumer goods industry. Key stakeholders were in attendance, including The Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA), Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), B.C. Food & Beverage, Yugginongsan, InnoFoods and Export Development Canada (EDC). The event kicked off with a food tasting of agrifood products from 12 B.C. companies, followed by an insightful industry overview from COTA, emphasizing the growing global demand for sustainable and organic products. The presentation was followed by a panel discussion including representatives from COTA, CFIA, B.C. Food & Beverage, Yugginongsan, InnoFoods and EDC. Panelists contributed valuable insights into their organization’s role in promoting sustainable and organic practices, and shared strategies for expanding B.C. products into South Korea. With active participation of industry experts, government officials and company representatives, B.C. Week has proven to be a promising initiative in strengthening trade relations in the agri-food and consumer goods sectors between the two regions.

The afternoon session highlighted British Columbia’s’s pioneering spirit and deep connection with its natural environment, featuring stories from Arc’teryx, a brand inspired by the rugged landscapes of North Vancouver and the Coast Mountains. The region’s untouched, challenging terrain provides the perfect testing ground for Arc’teryx’s products and embodies the brand’s ethos of focus and resilience. The panel included Seo Jae-woo, editor of Magazine B who covered Arc’teryx in a 2021 issue, representatives from Destination Canada’s Public Relations team and athletes involved in Arc’teryx’s “No Wasted Days” campaign, such as snowboarder Jo Sung-woo and rock climber Lee Min-young. Led by Arc’teryx’s marketing team from Nelson Sports, the discussion introduced the brand’s current stories and campaigns, its commitment to sustainability, and the distinctiveness of products like the “Squamish” and “Norvan” lines, which symbolize British Columbia. Arc’teryx athletes discussed the brand’s philosophy and its dedication to functionality in outdoor gear. This event successfully conveyed Arc’teryx’s deep connection to B.C.’s natural landscapes and the brand’s commitment to outdoor innovation and sustainability.

To recognize and celebrate the B.C.– South Korea partnership, the B.C. Week networking reception welcomed over 100 distinguished guests to the Canadian Embassy in Seoul. Representatives from prominent organizations such as Innofoods, Tim Hortons, Air Canada, Arc’teryx, Gyeonggi Province, Korea Development Bank (KDB), IBK, POSCO Holdings and more were in attendance. During the reception, the CEO of Nelson Sports was honored with the inaugural Friends of B.C. Award, recognizing his remarkable contributions to the growth of the Arc’teryx brand in the South Korean market and his role in fostering closer ties between B.C. and South Korea.

Day 2 AI & Life Science

The morning session for day two began with a pitching session from B.C. companies. Invest Vancouver provided an industry overview of the AI sector, followed by five B.C. companies including: Adarius.ai, Farpoint Technologies, CopilotAI, Castofly Technologies and Visaflo.companies presenting their pitches. The session transitioned to the life sciences sector, beginning with Invest Vancouver providing an industry overview, including Derm-Biome, Difinity, iProgen, NZ Technologies, and Variational AI presenting their pitches.

“Establishing a Corporation in British Columbia, Canada, and Strategies for Entering the North American Market” session was tailored for companies aiming to expand into North America through B.C. The session included an overview of B.C.’s investment environment presented by Invest Vancouver. This was complemented by information on Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which supports foreign entrepreneurs in establishing businesses in Canada. A significant portion of the session introduced upcoming opportunities, including Web Summit Vancouver 2025, a major event in the tech and innovation sector. Representatives from Air Canada also highlighted corporate programs that facilitate business travel and partnerships. The focus shifted to British Columbia’s strategic investment opportunities, with a presentation from Lawson Lundell on B.C.’s investment strategy, emphasizing its advantages as an innovation hub. The agenda continued with insights into B.C.’s expanding opportunities for international venture capital-backed enterprises. Colopl Next presented on B.C.’s potential for venture capital firms, and shared its perspective on the value of investing in B.C. EDC also provided introduction to their Canada’s Investment Matching Program. The session concluded with closing remarks rounding out an informative event designed to foster connections and highlight B.C. as a gateway to the North American market.

Day 3 Clean Technology and Energy 

Focused on clean technology and energy, key figures from British Columbia and South Korea were brought together to explore strategies for a sustainable energy transition. The session attracted leaders and stakeholders in the clean energy and hydrogen sectors from both regions, promoting collaboration and knowledge-sharing between British Columbia and South Korea. Derrick Kim, Managing Director of Trade and Invest B.C. South Korea Office, opened the event with an overview of B.C.’s clean energy initiatives, followed by Omar Mawji from the B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE), who discussed funding for globally impactful clean energy projects. Dr. Jeong Hoon from the National Assembly Futures Institute highlighted South Korea’s hydrogen policies for carbon neutrality, and Han-gyu Jeong from Gyeonggi Province provided insights on advancements in hydrogen-powered mobility. The program concluded with a panel discussion focusing on pathways to achieving carbon neutrality, emphasizing hydrogen technology, regulatory frameworks and collaborative milestones for a 2050 energy transition roadmap. The session emphasized British Columbia and South Korea’s shared commitment to sustainable innovation and partnership.

Trade and Invest BC plays a pivotal role in enabling British Columbia companies to access foreign direct investment and capitalize on export opportunities. Connect with a nearby representative to receive tailored support for investing in British Columbia