Smith in Japan and South Korea to meet with officials and stakeholders

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on April 22, 2025.

Premier Danielle Smith is travelling today to Seoul in South Korea after attending a bilateral meeting and luncheon with the Governor of Gangwon State during a nine-day trip to Asia to meet with government officials, importers and energy and agricultural sector leaders.

“I will be taking this opportunity to strengthen the mutually beneficial ties rooted in these agreements, identify new opportunities for collaboration across our resource, agri-food and technology sectors, and underscore Alberta’s position as a global leader in secure, reliable and responsible energy development,” said Smith.

Smith arrived in Tokyo, Japan on April 19 and attended meetings and bilateral conversations with the Governor and government officials of Hokkaido. On Monday Smith led a roundtable with Hokkaido officials and representatives on sports, cultural and educational exchanges.

On Wednesday the premier will meet with representatives from a regional energy importer and national energy companies in South Korea before looping back to Japan to attend a meeting with representatives from the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security on Thursday.

“I am excited to head to Japan and South Korea to advance work under Alberta’s Memorandum of understanding with the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security and celebrate the success of our decades-long twinning relationship with Hokkaido, Japan and Gangwon State, South Korea,” said Smith.

On Friday, Smith plans to meet with Japanese oil and gas company executives before travelling back to Alberta on Saturday.

Last year Japan was the province’s third-largest export market, totalling approximately $2.7 billion, and bilateral trade between Alberta and South Korea totalled approximately $1.5 billion.

Travel expenses will be posted publicly on the province’s travel and expense disclosure website.