Where’s the beef?

Perhaps those from PG who signed the MOU would like to let us know what the interests of the Jiangmen officials are in respect to potential benefits to be gained for their city?

Sounds like IPG is just out to subsidize trade for private business?

“the economic benefits of sister cities are broad ranging”
read: “we cant point out any one thing of substance”

A small town in China is two million people. In common? I doubt it.

Jiangmen. China has 4.48 million people. Almost a perfect match for us.

From the report come these words:

“The city of Prince George is the largest city in Northern British Columbia with a population of 76,000 serving a region of 326,000 people. The city is the service and supply hub for one of the fastest growing regions in Canada and plays an important role in the province’s economy and culture.”

I would like to know what the catchment area for the 326,000 people is. If it is the EI economic region 55 called Northern BC, it has an unemployment rate of 11.6% at this time, the highest in BC. If it is not that exact region, then it is a major portion of that region.

Strange to see such a high unemployment rate for “one of the fastest growing regions in Canada”.
http://srv129.services.gc.ca/ei_regions/eng/rates_cur.aspx

Also we have these words: “Canada is still a significant net exporter of engineering and architectural services and is the fourth largest exporter globally. This is one of the fastest growing industries in Prince George; employment in this industry grew nearly by 53 percent in 2013. Jiangmen is planning several commercial, residential and industrial complexes, which provide opportunities for Prince George businesses.”

Maybe if the word “architectural” were kept out of it, it might have at least some truth.

There are virtually no architects left in Prince George. Just look at the yellow pages. Even the smallest of building design projects are handled by firms from south and east of here these days.

Firms from the lower mainland are certainly capable of doing work in Jiangmen and show off Canadian architectural talent, but not from here.

I find the report to have too many unfounded embellishments and shows little actual knowledge of many of the industries involved.

The lack of statistical data relevant to PG is very evident. Most of the data is BC and Canadian data.

NDIT and IPG should work on a joint project to get some more relevant data for the regions of the province they cover. Reports like this would gain a lot more credibility.

One would think that after a decade or more of operation we would have such data required to promote the region.

Also, I do not see any endorsements from any of the potential industries or organizations which may stand to gain from a sister city relationship. Nor is there any indication of any businesses from here already doing work in China, businesses that can indicate whether a sister city agreement would provide a significant advantage.

Based on the international trade stats for Jiangmen, we would be buying more than twice as much as selling if we were to follow the same ratio of imports to exports.

Of course, there are stats for Jiangmen on the city’s international trade, while we have none for PG. In fact, we have none for the BC development regions as far as I can tell.

Sorry but I don’t understand the benefits of ‘twinning’ with a city in another country. What is the difference in going to another specific city and trying to sell our city, compared to going to another country to do the same? Seems that going to another country would reach a lot more people.

Word of mouth tends to really sell. Loud unfounded boasts, don’t.

seamut: Exactly. What economic benefits can they list to date? If they can’t list these, then its all just more sailboat fuel.

Would it not be easier for the city of Prince George to twin itself with the whole province of B.C. seeing it has probably fewer than 4.48 million people?

The report mirrors the big fancy runway at the airport.
Lots of glossy, feel good BS, but short on substance.

There is no specific advantage for having a sister city in China. However, they will have more to gain than we will.

These Sister city and crap like that was a 1970/80’s sort of thing. Get on with it. Put that dial phone down and pick up the iPhone 5S.

Don’t find ways to spend money.

Like IPG, this is a complete waste of time and money. Haven’t we got anything better to do?

What a joke this is.

I think this would be fine if:

all our underground infrastructure was in good condition…..it isn’t

all our above ground infrastructure was in good condition…..it isn’t either

all our roads were repaired…they aren’t

we can have money to keep our roads clean in the winter… we don’t and they aren’t except in SPECIAL places.

or if the sister city was sending us the money instead of the other way…and that ain’t happening either.

wonder how many people on Initiatives Prince George have FRIENDS over there?

Quesnel has had a sister city in China for along time, I don’t see as it has helped them out any, but as I don’t live there I might be wrong. It wouldn’t take much to find out…but I doubt Initiatives Prince George has figured that out…that would mean thinking ahead..
Are they thinking about benefits to Prince George or just to a few working within Initiatives Prince George?

“Haven’t we got anything better o do?”

Well, we elected people to look after the basics and they hired all the staff, managers and labor to do it – so, all one can do now is wait and see!

Sorry… still stuck on “broad ranging”

Sure we can be sister city, we will be the poor sister looking for handouts.

Except for free trips for our representatives there is no benefit to anyone else.

I think this would work if we had regular direct air linkage between the two cities. A platform in which to base economic activity and linkage with, but short of that its just another waste of city tax payer dollars by IPG.