Rupert Potter can see as well as anyone that B.C. has a great economic view of China and the United States. He is urging Prince George businesses to also turn around once in a while and cast their fiscal gaze towards England.
The United Kingdom is on solid investment ground, said Potter, the British consul-general for B.C. who visited Prince George on Friday. He pointed out that this province has more history doing business with his country than with any other on the globe. The language is the same, the social infrastructure is similar, the banking and regulatory systems are familiar, and he is on standby to help arrange linkages.
Potter has been in the position for less than a year. Part of being responsible for a region that covers all of B.C. and the Yukon (there are only three representatives of the British High Commission in all of Western Canada) means visiting the sites within that area of interest, he said.
"I am based in Vancouver but I found out quite early on that the foundation of B.C.'s economy is rural B.C. and northern B.C.," he said. "So I had to actually come see it myself, so I understand it better. We want to help B.C. companies invest in the U.K. and we want to find ways for business from the U.K. to be of service in B.C. We are concerned with both those things, that's not just a diplomatic answer, so it is a two-way thing and that takes relationships."
His primary stop in Prince George was with the city's economic development arm. Initiatives Prince George hosted Potter's visit, including a partial tour of the city and some initial introductions. Potter was on a tight schedule, but was already planning on a return trip to gather in the places he missed this time.
"Obviously forestry is a big item of interest for us, and logistics as well," said Potter, listing some of the priority areas of U.K. interest in this region. "Also, I want to find out more about the breadth of small business here. I think there is a broader diversity here than I first thought, so what do they do and what are their plans?"
IPG boss Heather Oland said, "From our point of view, that is a fabulous comment to hear. We have seen a diversity grow in our local economy; we have seen a resilience develop in our business profile. Our entrepreneurs have found ways to be self-reliant, innovate and stabilize through times that were hard on a lot of areas of Canada and the United States and Europe, so it is encouraging to put that entrepreneurial spirit in contact with the opportunities represented by the U.K. This visit is a big first step in building an environment for businesses to connect with each other and perhaps develop into a new market. There is no immediate gratification, but the importance of those connections cannot be overstated."
"IPG helps us facilitate a commercial exchange," said Potter. "I think I need to spend a lot of time across B.C. - and they can help me with that - reminding businesses to look three directions for their business model planning."
Local firms interested in fostering relationships with U.K. opportunities can contact IPG at 250-564-0282 or Potter's consular offices in Vancouver at 604-683-4421.
