Clean energy success continues!

By Michael Darch

Another successful day for our clean energy mission and for the Canadian Consulate in Chongqing.

The day starts on a rather humorous note. Ioan Nistor of the University of Ottawa is talking to another guest in the gym and casually asks “What do you do?” The reply, “I’m the Mayor of Toronto, David Miller.” We may know by sight all our beloved Ottawa Senators hockey players and those of our arch rival the Toronto Maple Leafs, but Toronto politicians?

Our hosts in Chongqing, the Chongqing Science and Technology Commission have done not only a terrific job on logistics for our seminar but the seminar room is overflowing - a certain and early indication of the city’s commitment to improving the environment. The Director General of the Commission Mr. Zhou Xu opens the Seminar.

Mr Zhou Xu Director General of the Chongqing Science and Technology Commission opens the Seminar.

Once again, we are impressed by the growth and modernization of the city. Although home to 32 million people, we are immediately amazed by the relative ease of getting around in the city and its mass transit system. Traffic congestion is not much worse than Ottawa’s. As Mr. Zhou lays out the science and technology policies for the city and the resources that back those policies, we cannot help but be envious. It is evident that China’s success is built not just on cheap labour but on a vision of commitment to science and technology and its application to the challenges of its industries and environment.

A little surprisingly, direct reference is made during the day to the need to improve the quality of the goods being manufactured through the application of technology. Even more surprising is the statement that growth has come at a cost to the environment and clean energy, clean technology and green policies are critical for Chongqing’s future.

Today, it is the University of Ottawa’s turn to scramble. The University signs two agreements. Not to be outdone, Jonathon Wells of Carleton lets me know that they have four leads to follow up. One of the companies is confident there will be a deal by summer.

The Carleton an University of Ottawa teams beaming with their success.

In the evening, we attend the banquet that the city is holding to celebrate the Chongqing High Tech Fair. Shawn Steil of the consulate is beaming! The Canadian contingent is by far the largest of the foreign delegations but many of the Canadians couldn’t get in as we were limited to 80 tickets.

Below is yours truly huddled with Toronto Mayor David Miller. No, we aren’t talking hockey, we are talking China strategies and our mutual interests in Chongqing. Most of the economic focus has been on China’s Tier 1 cities like Shanghai and Beijing. But the other large cities like Chongqing and the Tier 2 cities like Wuhan are being virtually ignored. And yet all these cities have populations larger than any Canadian city. This isn’t a question of taking a small piece out of a big pie. It is a question of taking a big piece out of a slightly smaller pie. Yet another topic for a separate blog stream!

Toronto Mayor David Miller and Mike Darch discussing China strategy at the Chongqing High Tech Fair Banquet.

Tomorrow, off to Beijing and what I know will be more surprises for the team.

(Mike Darch is Executive Director of OCRI Global Marketing)