'Export Roadshow' visits city - Article reprinted with permission

Source: RD - Red Deer Advocate
Date: November 27, 2004
Section: Business
Page: B3
Byline: Harley Richards

The "Export Roadshow" travelled down Hwy 2 this week, with Red Deer its first stop.

Representatives from the Canada Border Services Agency and The Business Link met with a group of 18 business people at the Centre for Business Development on Thursday.

Angela Lum and Randy Hahn, client services officers with the Canada Border Services Agency in Calgary, shared their insights into customs regulations.

Accompanying Lum and Hahn were Edmonton Business Link officials Erin Wilkinson, an export link co-ordinator, and Lisa Lam-Cadieux, a regional trade officer.

The four were representing the export development workgroup of Trade Team Alberta, a partnership of government departments and agencies and other organizations that promote international trade. Its mandate is to help Alberta businesses export their goods and services.

Speakers will provide information at presentations like the one in Red Deer this week, the first organized to date.

More are planned for the city and elsewhere in the province.

Wilkinson said communities outside Calgary and Edmonton are being targeted to ensure information gets to the people who need it. She pointed out there are many businesses in areas like Central Alberta that are exporting products or have the potential to do so.

The next step for Red Deer, said Wilkinson, will be to complete a needs assessment to determine the information needed for this region. That will likely be conducted by the Central Alberta Economic Partnership early next year, she said.

Future presentations by Trade Team Alberta's export development workgroup will be tailored to fill the needs identified. Wilkinson said possible topics could include logistics, legal issues, export financing, insurance, market research, delivering goods and e business.

Not only will the information help existing and prospective exporters, she added, it may help some assess if international markets are a reasonable goal for them.

Those attending Thursday's presentation represented local businesses of varying sizes, said Lum.

In addition to receiving tips on how to sift through customs paperwork, participants learned about the services and resources available them, added Lam-Cadieux.

If you would like additional information on Trade Team Alberta, please contact:

Bob Fox, Trade Team Alberta Secretariat
c/o Alberta International, Intergovernmental & Aboriginal Relations
4th Floor, Commerce Place
10155 - 102 Street
Edmonton Alberta T5J 4L6

Telephone: 780.707-0700