Vancouver, B.C. – The provincial government has unveiled a new multi-year #BCTECH Strategy.

Premier Christy Clark made the announcement at the province’s very first #BCTECH Summit in Vancouver this morning.

Building on last month’s announcement of a $100 million BC Tech Fund which will provide capital funding for promising start-up companies, the plan is to provide the opportunity for K-12 students to gain basic technology skills.

Starting next September, the basics of coding will be learned by more than 600,000 B.C. students.

“Targeted programs include coding academies, greater access to work experience electives for high school students, and dual credit partnerships between secondary and post-secondary institutions,” reads a government news release.

The strategy also includes ways of streamlining government procurement processes and investing in connectivity infrastructure.

“We all want a diverse, knowledge-based economy that supports innovation,” said Premier Clark. “That’s why government is working with colleges, universities, institutes and the tech industry to adjust training and education to meet current and future demand for talent.”

The government also announced $4.5 million over the next five years under the Canada-B.C. Job Grant to help employees in the technology sector.

In the 2015-16 fiscal year, $500,000 will be available for eligible employers and organizations for employee training that begins before April 1, this year.

In each of the following four years, $1 million will be made available for eligible employers.

According to the provincial government the technology sector is an important one in B.C.

In fact the latest statistics indicate it employs more than 86,000 people at wages 60% higher than B.C.’s industrial average.