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?
Refereed
Yes
