An agreement between the two cities hasn't been finalized, but Initiatives Prince George is already touting potential benefits to partnering with a Chinese sister city.
On Wednesday, the city's economic development arm released an internal report highlighting how businesses can take advantage of the coming relationship with Jiangmen.
A twinning agreement between the two cities is expected to be finalized this summer, when a Jiangmen delegation is supposed to visit Prince George.
"This report is meant to provide information about opportunities local businesses can pursue in the city of Jiangmen," said IPG CEO Heather Oland, in a press release. Oland has been a part of the past two Prince George delegations to China along with Mayor Shari Green and other city officials in 2013 and 2012. "We hope this information will provide an effective guide for businesses in Prince George to expand their markets to Jiangmen and Guangdong province of China."
Jiangmen is a city of 4.4 million that counts manufacturing as its main industry. Emerging industries include modern agriculture, clean energy, electronic information and textile and chemical fibers.
Among the proposed benefits identified are a potential increase in the export of lumber, wood pellets and value-added wood products; knowledge and best practice sharing between companies; cultural and education exchanges and tourism promotion.
The agriculture and forestry industry can jump on Jiangmen's plans to encourage the use of modern agriculture practices by providing sustainable forestry practice consulting, the report indicates.
An expected $4.2 billion worth of development projects in Jiangmen's Yangtze River delta region could also provide opportunities for local scientific, technical services and construction businesses.
"Cultural and commercial benefits are not mutually exclusive; enhancing cultural, sporting and educational exchanges will promote commercial exchange over the longer term," the report said.
