The Indo-Pacific region is home to some of Canada's most important creative export markets and holds great growth potential for Canadian creative firms. The South Korean market, in particular, holds enormous promise. Canada's Creative Export Strategy is helping our creative industries to shine in this market and advance their international business development goals.
Taleeb Noormohamed, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canada Heritage, completed a three-day visit to Seoul as part of the Team Canada Trade Mission to South Korea, on behalf of the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Canadian Heritage. Noormohamed led the creative industries delegation, in support of the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, who led the overall Team Canada mission. As a key initiative of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, this important business trip, organized with the Trade Commissioner Service in Seoul from Global Affairs Canada, helped facilitate economic and export opportunities for Canadian and South Korean creative industries.
The parliamentary secretary worked closely with more than 22 companies and organizations, mainly from the audiovisual, interactive and digital media industries, as part of the creative industries delegation.
The Canadian creative industries' business leaders also attended various business-to-business meetings. More than 165 of these meetings were organized for 17 companies. Delegates also visited corporate sites and took part in market intelligence briefings as well as networking events.
As lead of the creative industries delegation, Noormohamed also took part in bilateral meetings relevant to Canadian Heritage's mandate in encouraging opportunities for the creative industries. The parliamentary secretary attended the signing of deals between Canadian and South Korean companies such as Blimey VR Studios inc. (a HCXR parent company) and XrisP.
The parliamentary secretary met with Jeon Byung Geuk, Korea's First Vice-Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to discuss creative industries and cultural cooperation as part of the Canada-Korea Year of Cultural Exchanges 2024-2025 and the Canada-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also discussed Canada's commitment to strengthen business-to-business relationships with South Korea.
Noormohamed also met with Hyunrae Jo, President of the Korea Creative Content Agency, to solidify the relationship with this key South Korean government agency and enhance Canada-Korea collaboration in the content creation industry. He also met with Sang-In Lee, Vice Chair of Korea Communications Commission, to reaffirm Canada's commitment to establishing a modernized audiovisual coproduction treaty that will allow for more collaboration and opportunities between Canada and South Korea. The two also discussed their respective approaches to creative industries trade and digital policies. Noormohamed met with Hyun-woo Kim from the Seoul Business Agency to discuss each country's respective approaches to supporting their creative industries in global markets.
Team Canada's trade mission has laid the groundwork for more Canada-South Korea creative business opportunities. Canadian Heritage will continue to work closely with creative industry professionals to support their export projects and business endeavours.
