July 26, 2011, Ottawa – The Canadian
Bioenergy Association (CanBio)’s latest trade mission to Korea and China
promoted Canadian advanced bioenergy technology and allowed participants to
discuss partnering opportunities in Canadian bioenergy investments. More than
one billion dollars’ worth of trade deals were discussed, which could bring
significant economic benefits to Canada.
In Korea, the delegation participated in
ENVEX 2011, a major environmental technology and renewable energy event
organized by the Korean Environmental Preservation Association, which draws
many businesses and more than 1,000 overseas buyers. Ten Canadians representing
mostly small to mid-sized companies presented 20 investment opportunities to 53
Korean investors from 45 companies. The result was more than 40
business-to-business meetings that may yield investment and jobs in Canadian
forestry communities.
Among the delegates were a British Columbia
community looking to convert residue from fire management forest thinning into
wood pellets and a district heating facility, and a unique technology that
efficiently converts forest biomass into super-dense wood pellets and biodiesel
or bio-methane in the same process.
In Beijing, representatives from 81 Chinese
companies attended presentations given by 12 Canadian companies, which resulted
in more than 80 business-to-business meetings. Given the new focus on renewable
energy in the most recent five-year China Energy Plan, the Chinese companies
were extremely interested in new Canadian technologies.
“Although we did well opening the door last
year (with the first trade mission to China), we were astounded at the response
in 2011 of Korean and Chinese investors wanting to participate in investments
in Canada,” says CanBio president Douglas Bradley. “Recognizing that equity
markets are poor in North America at the moment, we are finding new ways to
open up global markets for Canadian technology companies and introduce
international investors to bioenergy investment opportunities here.”
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