Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver Joins The Surrey Industry Bus Tour

(left photo) Philippine Consul General Arlene Magno and Minister of State for Trade Jagrup Brar are briefed during the visit to the distribution center of Loblaws. (right photo) A Philippine jeepney adorns the hall of Loblaws where the participants gathered upon arrival.

03 May 2024 - The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver joined other consulates, businesses, government representatives, and media in the Surrey Industry Bus Tour organized by the Surrey Board of Trade (SBOT) on 03 May 2024.  The objective of the tour was to showcase Surrey's industries and future developments, promoting the city as a regional economic powerhouse in British Columbia.

Participants had the option of choosing from three bus tours that would visit various distribution, manufacturing, construction, and commercial real estate companies in some of Surrey’s industrial parks.  Consul General Arlene Magno and Economic Assistant Eleanor dela Cruz joined the tour led by SBOT President and CEO Anita Huberman that brought them to the Empire Business Park, LED Smart (lighting and controls manufacturing company), Loblaws (supermarket chain), and Sanderson Concrete (precast concrete manufacturer).  In each of the stops, they were given general briefings on the operation of the business, tours of the facilities, and product demonstrations.

Participants view half of the concrete product designed for a university park during their visit at the Sanderson Concrete.

The tour began with a welcome reception at the SBOT office and concluded with a lunch at the Civic Hotel featuring keynote speaker Jovan Ceklic, Director of Hydrogen Infrastructure, Powertech Labs, who spoke on Surrey’s hydrogen journey. He highlighted the substantial developments in the hydrogen sector, through the strong support of the government and the private sector, and underscored the importance of hydrogen energy for infrastructure projects that would spur global economic growth. He encouraged the audience to invest in Surrey’s clean energy hydrogen for a brighter and greener future.

Minister of State for Trade Jagrup Brar (left) and Director Jovan Ceklic of Powertech Labs (right) deliver their remarks during the lunch at Civic Hotel.

The City of Surrey is the largest city by land area and second most populated in Metro Vancouver. It is one of the fastest growing, culturally diverse cities in Canada and is projected to become the largest city in five years, surpassing Vancouver.  It is at the leading edge of metropolitan transformation, with an average of 2,500 new businesses locating in the city’s eight business parks every year.  Surrey’s priority sectors include creative economy, agri-innovation, clean technology, and health technology. It is a globally recognized leader in building vibrant, sustainable communities through technology and innovation.  END