Event to include presentations, workshops and peer-to-peer sharing on export market access
A one-day Northern Ontario Exports Retreat for mining supply and service companies will be held for the first time June 17 in Sudbury. The retreat will facilitate industry networking in the North to take advantage of export market opportunities both domestically and internationally.
The event will take place at Bryston’s on the Park in Copper Cliff and feature a series of presentations by industry leaders, as well as workshops for peer-to-peer sharing on export market access.
Currently, 63 per cent of sales by Sudbury mining supply and service companies are within the region. Taking advantage of new export markets would diversify their client base. The event is expected to draw participants from across Northern Ontario.
Many companies are already exporting beyond the North and will have valuable experiences to share at the event.
“It’s really about bringing together the companies and mining the collective knowledge of those in attendance,” said Scott Rennie of the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, who is co-ordinating the event.
Targeting export markets
Although the final line-up of presentations was not available at press time, a luncheon keynote, “Tracking the trends in 2015 – the top 10 trends which mining companies will have to deal with in 2015” will be delivered by Jurgen Beier, national leader of Deloitte Canada’s mining practice.
There will be three hour-long breakout periods throughout the day, during which attendees can choose one of three separate workshops to attend, for a total of nine different export markets to explore. Domestic target markets include Saskatchewan, Alberta and Quebec. International markets include the U.S., South America, Asia and Australia.
The focus of the peer-to-peer breakout discussions will be on the potential of these markets, the challenges they present and ways to access them.
“It’s not a death by power-point kind of event,” Rennie emphasized. “Companies will share in a peer-to-peer format lessons learned and what successes they have had in selected markets. Say there’s one company doing a really good job in Chile, and another doing a really great job in Mexico – they can sit down and share information to their mutual benefit.”
Networking opportunities abound
The event is being delivered in co-operation with the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association (SAMSSA), the Canadian Association of Mining Equipment and Services for Export (CAMESE) and Export Development Canada. Joining the event as session facilitators and contributors will be Strategic Export Marketing Program advisors Mel Sauve, president of Global Growth, and Jon Baird of SEMP Consulting and, previously, CAMESE managing director.
The retreat is an extension of the Mining Supply and Services Export Assistance Program, which is funded by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund (NOHFC) and Fednor, and delivered by Ontario North Economic Development Corporation (ONEDC). The purpose of the program is to assist with the development of new domestic and international markets outside of Northern Ontario.
“In addition to peer learning and specific mining company presentations, government contacts in attendance will be critical for these companies to develop markets outside of Northern Ontario,” said Rennie.
The event will allow for companies to forge partnerships and learn about government programs for mining and supply companies in the North, including trade missions led by CAMESE and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.
Potential for an annual event
Registration is limited to 120 participants, many of whom are graduates of the Strategic One-on-One Export Marketing Program.
At the closing reception of the event, the 12 companies that graduated from the program over the last year will be recognized. More than 50 companies have completed the One-on-One strategic marketing program since it began in 2011.
Rennie hopes the one-day export marketing retreat can be repeated annually and that it will lead to more regular communication between mining supply and service companies in Northern Ontario.
For more information about the event, contact Kaitlyn Dunn, project co-ordinator, Mining Supply and Services Export Assistance Program. 705-674-4455 x4455 or [email protected].
