Core Business Areas
The ministry has four core business areas that correspond to the organization’s operating divisions. Three areas correspond to the ministry’s core activities and the fourth, Executive and Support Services, is comprised of management services, the Offices of the Deputy Minister and the Minister.
1. Marketing and Promoting British Columbia: This core business area is led by the Marketing, Investment and Trade Division. It focuses on leading the Asia-Pacific Strategy including support for the Asia-Pacific Trade Council; implementing initiatives for communicating British Columbia’s advantages and opportunities internationally; managing the province’s economic immigration programs; organizing and managing external and inbound trade missions; showcasing British Columbia at national and international industry events; and providing potential investors with business location information and services. The Marketing, Investment and Trade Division has a base budget of $9.530 million and 46 FTEs for 2006/07.
2. Enhancing Economic Development: This core business area is led by the Economic Competitiveness Division. It focuses on leading government’s economic diversification plan; undertaking analyses to improve economic competitiveness; identifying and facilitating projects that support economic growth and diversification throughout the province; working with investors to facilitate economic development; establishing British Columbia positions and policies regarding domestic and international trade issues; managing programs to improve urban and rural local government infrastructure (including the Western Economic Partnership Agreement); administering the Nechako-Kitimat Development Fund and the Competition Council; evaluating options and participating in cross-government projects to improve British Columbia’s tax competitiveness; undertaking labour market planning; working with the Industry Training Authority; and expediting the credential certification process for highly-skilled immigrants with international qualifications. The Economic Competitiveness Division has a base budget of $136.085 million and 55 FTEs for 2006/07.
3. 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat: This core business area is led by the BC Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat and focuses on representing the province as a member partner in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and implementing 2010 related strategies. The BC Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Secretariat has a base operations budget of $153.010 million and 22 FTEs for 2006/07.
4. Executive and Support Services: This core business provides executive leadership, planning, administrative and legislative support to assist the ministry’s other core business areas to achieve their goals and objectives. This core business area includes the Minister’s and Deputy Minister’s offices, corporate financial, administrative and human resources services and operating grants to the Columbia Basin Trust pursuant to the Columbia Basin Accord. In addition, the Division provides administrative and financial services to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. The Executive and Support Services Division has a base budget of $11.203 million and 26 FTEs for 2006/07.
