Influential Chinese business leaders learned how to navigate Vancouver’s booming Digital and Innovation sectors, as well as British Columbia’s vast agrifoods and natural resources sectors on Thursday, Aug. 20th during the 18th Convention of the Teochew International Federation at the Vancouver Convention Centre. This grand event was hosted by Canada Chaoshan Business Association, and organized by CAIFU.

Held in Canada for the first time in Vancouver, nearly 3,000 business executives and entrepreneurs of Teochew descent sought networking opportunities and built relationships with potential trade partners and investors. The Teochew International Convention has been held biennially since 1981, and allows over thousands participants from around the world to gather and solidify their economic and cultural ties with the host city. With the support of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as well as from all three levels of government, Canada Chaoshan Business Association was awarded the right to host the latest 18th Convention of the Teochew International Federation from August 19-21, 2015, in Vancouver.

During the convention, The Vancouver Economic Commission hosted two concurrent sessions on Vancouver’s booming Innovative Technology Sector and the Digital Entertainment & Interactive Sector. Within each, pitch sessions by CEOs of leading compnies in the Techonology or Digital Entertainment & Interactive. Guests had a chance to connect with CEOs of leading companies in the Technology or Digital Entertainment & Interactive sectors and hear the CEOs share their ideas, business plans, and opportunities for investment. The B.C. provincial government also hosted two industry seminars, highlighting a variety of small and medium-sized businesses in agriculture and mining based in the province.

Teochew, located in the east of Guangdong Province, bordering the South China Sea, is known for its entrepreneurship, charitable work, and dedication to preserving their culture and solidarity. There some 50 million people of Teochew descent, with more than 20 million residing outside China.

“This is a great opportunity for B.C. business leaders to leverage our province’s competitive advantages to make important connections with influential executives from all over the world, leading to future trade and investment, and ultimately, new jobs for British Columbians,” Teresa Wat, B.C. Minister of International Trade said in a news release.