Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)
While in Japan, Premier Smith will meet with government officials, importers and energy and agricultural sector leaders to position Alberta as the partner of choice to meet Japan’s growing demand for energy and food security.
In addition to making new inroads for Alberta in Japan, Premier Smith will head to Gangwon State, South Korea, to further entrench Alberta’s longest-standing sister province relationship. Premier Smith’s stop in Gangwon comes on the heels of last year’s visit to Alberta by Governor Kim Jin Tae of Gangwon State, Republic of Korea, to reaffirm this relationship and celebrate its Golden Jubilee.
“I am excited to head to Japan and South Korea to advance work under Alberta’s memorandum of understanding with the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security and celebrate the success of our decades-long twinning relationships with Hokkaido, Japan and Gangwon State, South Korea. I will be taking this opportunity to strengthen the mutually beneficial ties rooted in these agreements, identify new opportunities for collaboration across our resource, agri-food and technology sectors and underscore Alberta’s position as a global leader in secure, reliable and responsible energy development.”
Japanese investment in Alberta’s energy sector over the years has helped fuel the province’s economy and support jobs for Albertans. As Japan looks for ways to secure and diversify its energy supply, Alberta is in a prime position to help them meet this need by supplying everything from oil, natural gas and hydrogen, while boosting collaboration in developing our energy and natural resources.
With this year marking a landmark 45 years of Alberta’s successful twinning relationship with Hokkaido, meetings with Japanese officials and private sector leaders will also focus on opportunities to strengthen our robust ties in agriculture and agri-food, while building on our long history of cooperation in sports, culture and educational exchanges.
While in South Korea, Premier Smith will meet with government officials and private sector leaders to build on decades of co-operation and strengthen our links in sustainable energy development, energy and agrifood export growth, technology and innovation, investment attraction and more. Premier Smith will also showcase Alberta’s strengths and offerings in sectors where Alberta and Korea show natural synergy and promise for mutually beneficial growth. Major Korean companies have also made a number of substantial investments in Alberta with several establishing Canadian headquarters in Calgary. This mission will serve as a launch pad for attracting even more investment to our province.
Mission expenses will be posted on the travel and expense disclosure page.
Quick facts
- Canada and Japan have been members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement since 2018.
- Bilateral trade between Alberta and Japan totalled more than $3.0 billion in 2024.
- In 2024, Japan was Alberta’s third-largest export market, with Alberta’s exports to Japan totalling almost $2.7 billion, and energy exports making up almost $1 billion of that total.
- The Republic of Korea, known informally as South Korea, is an important economic partner for Alberta.
- Bilateral trade between Alberta and South Korea totalled about $1.5 billion in 2024.
- Alberta’s total exports to the region in 2024 totalled $1.2 billion, and consisted primarily of energy, nickel, meat and wood pulp.
- Several major South Korean energy companies have Canadian headquarters in Calgary, including KOGAS, Korea National Oil Corp and SK Eco-Engineering.
Itinerary for Premier Smith*
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April 18-19 |
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April 20 |
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April 21 |
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April 22 |
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April 23 |
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April 24 |
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April 25 |
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April 26 |
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*Subject to change.
Related news
- Partnering with Japan to expand our energy horizons (Mar. 11, 2025)
- Building on 50 years of friendship with Gangwon (Sept. 23, 2024)