Province Helps Businesses Become Export Savvy

Entrepreneurial spirit, international vision and innovation are helping Nova Scotia exporters grow.

Going Global, Staying Local, released today, Jan. 19, is the province's partnership strategy for export development and offers a focused approach that will help more Nova Scotia companies sell products to more markets.

"For Nova Scotia exporters to realize their potential, government must continue to provide strategic, well-organized support that promotes and helps export expansion," said Economic Minister Richard Hurlburt. "Government will invest close to $3 million over the next three years to implement more than 35 actions focused on expanding exports in Nova Scotia."

The strategy outlines a three-year commitment by government to achieve four objectives:

• Increase awareness of the important role trade plays in fostering prosperity.
• Create and maintain an environment to support export growth.
• Allocate resources so companies receive the support needed to export successfully.
• Support service exports to develop the sector's strong potential.

A provincial trade committee identified two major challenges for small and medium-sized businesses -- a lack of understanding of the export process and a lack of capital to finance market development. Two new funding programs are available to help exporters overcome these challenges.

"The programs the strategy has enabled, with a focus on training, follow-up and promoting service exports, are a welcome addition to the resources available to our trade development professionals," said Jim Simpson, manager of Trade and Development, Nova Scotia Business Inc. "Together they will make a significant contribution in helping to achieve the shared goals of increasing exports and the number of exporting businesses in Nova Scotia."

ExportAbility offers support for professional development in international trade growth. The Go-Ahead Program will help exporters convert leads into sales by helping cover travel and marketing costs. Companies that have participated in provincial export initiatives, such as trade missions, are eligible for the Go-Ahead Program.

The programs have a combined budget of $200,000 and will be administered by Nova Scotia Business Inc. If successful, funding could increase to about $400,000 next year.

"As a design engineering firm with experience in multiple business sectors, we have the capacity to grow and we're looking to strengthen business relationships in new markets," said Peter Rent, president and CEO of Neill and Gunter (Nova Scotia) Limited. "Building these relationships takes time and is a long-term investment, and this funding will help us defray those costs."

The Provincial Trade Committee includes representation from Nova Scotia Business Inc. and a number of government departments including Agriculture; Fisheries and Aquaculture; Office of Economic Development; Energy; Environment and Labour; Finance; Intergovernmental Affairs; Natural Resources; Tourism, Culture and Heritage; and World Trade Centre, Atlantic Canada.

An electronic version of Going Global, Staying Local, along with information on ExportAbility and the Go-Ahead Program, can be found online at www.gov.ns.ca/econ/trade .