File Photo/CHAT News

By Jayk Sterkenburg

PROVINCE

Premier Smith visiting Asia to grow Alberta’s energy and agriculture markets

Apr 19, 2025 | 3:49 PM

Premier Danielle Smith is meeting with government officials, importers and energy and agricultural sector leaders in Japan from April 18 to 26, to position Alberta as the partner of choice to meet Japan’s growing demand for energy and food security.

Smith said she’s visiting Japan and South Korea to advance work under Alberta’s memorandum of understanding with the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security.

She said she will also 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,” she said in a statement Friday.

“[I will] 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.”

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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 totaled more than $3 billion in 2024.

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 — or, 50 year anniversary.

Alberta’s government said 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’s government said it 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 its energy and natural resources.

Bilateral trade between Alberta and South Korea totaled about $1.5 billion in 2024.

Alberta’s total exports to the region in 2024 totaled $1.2 billion — and consisted primarily of energy, nickel, meat and wood pulp.

This year marks 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 ties in agriculture and agri-food, while building on the long history of cooperation in sports, culture and educational exchanges.

While in South Korea, Smith will meet with government officials and private sector leaders to build on decades of co-operation.

She will visit to strengthen links in sustainable energy development, energy and agrifood export growth, technology and innovation, investment attraction and more.

Smith is also showcasing 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.

Alberta’s government said the mission will serve as a launch pad for attracting even more investment to the province.