Liu Fei (centre), consul general of China in Vancouver, gives a speech at the F-Pacific press conference together with (from left) Teresa Wat, BC minister of international trade, Asia Pacific strategy and multiculturalism; Alice Wong, Canadian minister of state for senior affairs; Zhao Bing, chairman and executive director of CFONSG; Yuen Pau Woo, president of HQ Vancouver; and Bei Nie, CEO of F-Pacific, in Richmond on May 1. VINCENT LI / FOR CHINA DAILY

F-Pacific Optical Communications Company, the Canadian subsidiary of China Fiber Optic Network System Group, has established North American headquarters in Vancouver.

The company will also open a new manufacturing facility in mid-2015 in Surrey that is expected to run 10 production lines and hire 200 workers.

Company representatives made the announcements at a press conference at the Vancouver Four Seasons Hotel on May 1.

Currently, F-Pacific operates North America's first and only production line for zirconia ferrule blanks, a core component to building fibre optic networks.

Products are manufactured at F-Pacific's facility in Richmond to supply China's rapidly expanding fibre optics market.

Fibre optic technology allows for faster Internet speeds than any other infrastructure and is being adopted by major telecommunications companies across Canada.

According to Bei Nie, CEO of F-Pacific, "Vancouver is the best place to produce [the ferrule blanks] to ensure the highest quality" due to Canada's stronger intellectual property laws and Vancouver's climate, as the quality of ferrule blanks is affected by temperature, humidity and air clarity.

Vancouver also provides a port that offers affordable shipping and proximity to the US market. Additionally, BC's inexpensive electricity allows for increased production at lower costs.

F-Pacific plans to expand its business to include the supplying of the equipment to improve Canada's fibre optics network, and intends to partner with Canadian telecommunications companies as they begin investing in fibre-to-the-home technology.

"F-Pacific will bring high-quality technologies to Canada, allowing for export back to China as well as the advancement of fibre optic technologies in this country," said Zhao Bing, chairman and executive director of CFONSG, in a statement from F-Pacific.

The company also intends to bring manufacturing and other jobs to the Lower Mainland of BC through its production facilities.

F-Pacific is the first company to have been drawn to Vancouver by HQ Vancouver, a project that aims to make cases for medium-to-large sized Asian corporations to relocate their headquarters to the Vancouver area, based on the region's strategic location, high-quality infrastructure, educated population and other competitive advantages.

Established in February, HQ Vancouver is a joint project of the Government of Canada, Province of BC and the BC Business Council.

"[The Province of BC] has been working hard to build ties with China Fiber Optic [and] it is exciting to see the results of that effort come to fruition" said Teresa Wat, BC minister of international trade, Asia Pacific strategy and multiculturalism. "[F-Pacific's relocation] reflects the confidence Chinese companies have in doing business in British Columbia."