Mayor Andrew Knack is on the road again, this time taking an 11-day excursion to China and Japan to promote Edmonton’s manufacturing and clean energy industries.
Knack will be joined by a lone office staffer, city manager Eddie Robar, a representative from the Edmonton International Airport and a member of Edmonton Global. Edmonton Global will be covering the costs of the trip, estimated to be between $6,000 and $8,000 per person. The trade mission departs Saturday and returns to Edmonton on April 15.
“Our presence there is to help support (Edmonton Global),” said Knack, who added it is imperative the city attract more foreign investment to beef up it’s non-residential tax base and provide some relief to homeowners. “This is important to have both the political and the senior leadership there to be able to answer questions and make sure we’re providing the right support.
“If we have businesses looking to set up in Edmonton, they want to make sure they understand what’s the permitting process like, how is that going to go? What supports can we offer to make sure they can set up their business as quickly as possible and start operating?”
Knack and company will be promoting the city’s industrial growth hub and client liaison unit, the city’s research infrastructure, its robust construction economy and its young but highly educated workforce. Edmonton Global CEO Daryn Edgar said the windfall from the trip could be up to “$2 billion in capital investment, create 300 to 400 permanent jobs, and support more than 1,000 additional jobs across construction and related sectors.”
Edmonton Global strategic communications and brand director Sherri Bouslama said having the mayor on hand will improve the credibility of the delegation.
“These missions are focused on long‑term economic outcomes — attracting investment, supporting local businesses, and building relationships that lead to jobs and diversification,” she said.
Delegates will first land in Beijing and meet with leaders in the local agri-food business sector. The party then travels to Tianjin to learn about the city’s clean energy facility, tour an advanced manufacturing facility and meet with cargo and logistics business organizations. They will then travel to Wuhan, where they will meet with the China Carbon Emission Exchange.
From there, the group will fly to Tokyo, where they will tour more advanced manufacturing facilities and have several meetings with Japanese government officials. They will then fly back to Edmonton.
“Advanced manufacturing” covers energy equipment, steel, petrochemicals, medical devices, electronics, and semiconductors. Edmonton is ranked third in manufacturing sales and first per capita in Canada, last year generating $46 billion in capital. Approximately 55 per cent of all manufacturing in Alberta happens within Edmonton.
Edmonton is also a natural leader in hydrogen fuel, with more than $30 billion in new start-ups planned to go into operation by 2030.
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