Where Do We Go From Here? A Quantitative Analysis of Alberta's Foreign Office Network

Abstract

The raison d’être for Alberta’s foreign office network is to find new opportunities and build partnerships internationally. The Government of Alberta, like other provinces, maintains foreign offices as part of a set of strategies to help firms navigate the intricate international market, promote Alberta industry capabilities and expertise to potential investors, proved timely policy and trade information back to the Ministry of International and Intergovernmental Relations, and endorse Alberta as a world-leader in environmental standards globally. The joint effort of these strategies suggest that these offices are aimed at fostering sustainable economic growth for the province, so how well is the government doing at meeting that goal? Alberta’s new NDP government has briefly made reference to a commitment to diversifying and expanding the Alberta economy, but has not yet revealed their foreign strategy or a mandate direction for the Ministry of IIR, so there is an opportunity to review Alberta 45 year paradiplomatic strategy. At present, the Government of Alberta supports eleven foreign offices in eight countries under the Ministry of IIR with an annual budget of $10.932 million annually. Alberta currently maintains international office: Alberta China Office; Alberta Shanghai Office; Alberta Hong Kong Office; Alberta Taiwan Office; Alberta Japan Office; Alberta Korea Office; Alberta Singapore Office; Alberta India Office; Alberta United Kingdom Office; Alberta Mexico Office; and Alberta Washington Office. Alberta tax payers are footing the bill, and in an ideal world are receiving some (economic) benefit from them. The million dollar question then is do these offices actually create benefits and greater exports for the province?