N.B. companies sign millions worth of education contracts in Beijing

New Brunswick companies have signed $85 million in new contracts, including some multi-million-dollar education deals, during the first day of a week-long trade mission to China.

The deals, signed today in Beijing, include a five-year $65-million contract for the Moncton Flight College to train at least 600 new Chinese pilots.

CANLink Aviation of Saint John signed a $500,000 agreement with Beihang University to provide specialized English-language support in the field of aviation.

Meanwhile, Atlantic Education International of New Brunswick signed a five-year $10-million agreement with AKD International to provide New Brunswick curriculum and support to schools in China.

A second $10-million deal will establish a new school in Anhui province that will also use the New Brunswick high school curriculum.

Premier Shawn Graham, who is in China, says the trade mission represents a huge trade opportunity for his province.

- The Canadian Press