Forum Chair:
David I. Matheson QC
Forum Co-Chairs:
Lenore Gibson National Chair, HKCBA
Frankie Lee President, HKCBA Edmonton
Honourary Chairs:
Maureen Siu Director, HKETO Canada
John Mah Q.C. HKCBA Honourary Life Member Edmonton
Honourary Advisors:
Barry Macdonald Chair, Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations Worldwide Immediate Past National Chair, HKCBA
Robert J. Armstrong President SCL - Supply Chain & Logistics Association Canada; Armstrong Trade & Logistics Advisory Services
Organizing Committee: (Edmonton)
Frankie Lee President, HKCBA Edmonton
Fred Greaves, Director Immediate Past President HKCBA Edmonton Section
Terry Cavanaugh, Director HKCBA Edmonton Section
Neil Kaarsemaker Edmonton Economic Development Corp Director, HKCBA Edmonton
David Tam, Director HKCBA Edmonton Section
Richard Wong, Director HKCBA Edmonton Section
Stephen Lau Director & Secretary HKCBA Edmonton Section
Audrey Kwan President, HKCBA Calgary
Alexandria Sham Vice President, HKCBA Calgary
Kelly Xu Province of Alberta Ministry of Int'l, Intergovernmental & Aboriginal Relations - Int'l Offices and Trade
Sam Young HKCBA National Director & Treasurer
Shirley Kwan Executive Director, HKCBA Edmonton
Organizing Committee: (National)
Bill Lau President, HKCBA Vancouver
Audrey Kwan President, HKCBA Calgary
Dave Spiers President, HKCBA Winnipeg
Carmel Tse HKCBA Representative, London (Ontario)
Frank Monteiro President, HKCBA Toronto
Alison Nankivell President, HKCBA Ottawa
Mati Pouliot President, HKCBA Montreal
Kam Chung President, HKCBA Halifax
Mitch Kowalski National Vice Chair HKCBA
Peter Yeung National Director HKCBA
Dorothy Jean Mar National Director HKCBA
Andrew Yui Honourary Director, HKCBA
Y C Chan Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office Toronto
Stephen Siu Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office Toronto
Shirley Wong Invest Hong Kong
Grace Xin Executive Director, HKCBA National
Samantha Moulsdale Executive Director, HKCBA Toronto
Joyce Chung Executive Director, HKCBA Vancouver
Ian R. Marshall Speaker Liaison & Coordination
Dale Oswald Trade Show Management
Zoheir Hasanbhai WebMaster
Forum Management:
Robert Brown CEO
Tel: (416) 366-2642 Fax: (416) 366-1569 Email: canhkforum08@hkcba.com bob@hkcba.com

Alberta's Economic Results:

• Over the past decade, Alberta had the highest rate of economic growth rate in Canada at 4.3% per year. In 2006, Alberta's economy grew by 6.8% and experts predict Alberta will have one of Canada's top performing economies in the future.
  
• Alberta's exports of goods and services more than doubled between 1996 and 2006 to $90.1 billion. A growing number of those exports are manufactured products and services. Exports of manufactured goods more than doubled over the same period.
  
• Alberta has had a rapidly growing manufacturing base. Between 1996 and 2006, manufacturing shipments almost doubled to $64.4 billion.
  
• The province consistently has the highest investment per capita among provinces. In 2006, Alberta investment per capita was $22,296, more than twice the national average. A total of $75.3 billion was invested in 2006, almost quadruple the 1996 level.
  
• Alberta's vibrant economy translates into a healthy job market. Average annual employment in the province in 2006 increased by 86,300 over 2005. Approximately 465,600 new jobs were created between 1996 and 2006.
  
• Alberta's average unemployment rate in 2006 was the lowest in Canada at 3.4%.
  

Fastest Growing Economy

• Over the past ten years, Alberta has had the strongest economy in Canada, with an average real rate of growth of 4.3% per year.
  
• Alberta has capitalized on its strengths in agriculture, energy, forestry and industrial products to develop a dynamic and diverse economy.
  
• Over the past decade, the economy has experienced rapid growth in such industries as forest products, machinery, fabricated metals, construction, retail and wholesale trade, and business services.
  

Structure of the Alberta Economy
Percentage Distribution of GDP

Attractive Investment Climate

• Alberta consistently records the highest investment per capita among provinces, with a total of $75.3 billion in investment in 2006, and a projected $79.2 billion in 2007. In 2006, Alberta investment per capita was $22,296, compared to the national average of $9,113.
  
• Increased investment in oil sands, utilities, information and communications technologies, manufacturing and business services is expected to sustain investment growth over the next three to four years. Conventional energy investment is expected to remain strong.
  

Manufacturing Growth

Between 1996 and 2006, Alberta's manufacturing shipments increased by 110% to $64.4 billion.
Alberta's manufacturing sector is closely tied to the resource sector. About two-thirds of manufacturing output consist of value-added resource products.

Alberta - An Exporting Economy

• In 2006, Alberta businesses exported $90.1 billion worth of goods and services to world markets, an increase of about 149% over 1996.
  
• As well as exports of primary resource products, Alberta exports an increasing volume and variety of manufactured products. Exports of manufactured products rose 108% between 1996 and 2006.

Alberta's Labour Force

• In 2006, Alberta had the lowest unemployment rate of all the provinces at 3.4%.
  
• Alberta's unemployment rate averaged 4.7% from 2001 to 2005.
  
• In 2006, average employment in the Alberta economy increased by 86,300 over 2005.
  

Labour Productivity

• In 2005, Alberta’s economic productivity was higher than any other province. Total value added per hour in Alberta exceeded the Canadian average by 8.6%. The only other province to exceed the Canadian average of 100% was Ontario with 103.7%.
  
• Alberta consistently has one of the best labour records of any province in Canada, in terms of fewest workdays lost due to strikes.
  
• Alberta’s manufacturing sector also had the highest productivity of all provinces, partly because of its highly productive chemical, machinery and food processing industries.
  

Alberta's Natural Advantages
Includes:

• An abundance of energy reserves that fuel a thriving oil and gas industry.
• An abundance of forest reserves to responsibly meet the needs of a growing forest products industry.
• Excellent farm land, which supports world-class agriculture production.
• Clean air and water, unmatched scenery, and culturally diverse communities with a quality of life second to none.
  

Alberta's Positive Business Climate
Includes:

• The lowest overall taxes in Canada.
• No provincial sales tax (the only province in Canada without one).
• No general capital or payroll taxes prevalent in other provinces and U.S. states.
• A highly entrepreneurial and competitive business community.
• A government committed to less regulation to enhance business competitiveness.
• A fiscally responsible government that has eliminated its provincial debt, demonstrating to investors the business-like attitude of the government here.
• A highly skilled, educated, and motivated workforce that is the most productive in Canada.
• A strong science and technology culture.
• World-class infrastructure to support business, including transportation, telecommunications, and utilities, as well as excellent hospitals, schools, and post-secondary institutions.
  

Economic Outlook for Alberta - Summer Update
August 2007

The Alberta economy led the nation for a third consecutive year in 2006, growing by 6.8%. Economic growth is forecast to be 4.3% in 2007 and 3.9% in 2008.

Official website of the Government of Alberta
http://www.alberta-canada.com/index.cfm