Ten Ontario companies will be heading to Peru and six to Brazil for mining trade shows in September.
It took less than two weeks to fill the spaces for the shows, which occur almost back-to-back. EXTEMIN 2009, Peru’s biannual show, will take place from September 14 to18. EXPOSIBRAM 2009, Brazil’s annual show in Belo Horizonte, takes place September 21 to 24.
Both shows feature Ontario exhibits organized by the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines in partnership with the Ministry of International Trade and Investment.
Paul Bradette, the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines’ mining sector lead for trade, investment and strategic sectors unit, said eight of the 10 companies going to Peru are from Northern Ontario.
Site visits, buyer or agent meetings and other networking opportunities are arranged depending on the company’s objective.
"Once I understand what each company wants to do, I start to work with our in-market trade consultants to set up meetings or visits, whatever is necessary to assist them in getting into those markets," Bradette said.
Mining is Peru’s strongest industrial sector, representing more than 50 per cent of exports and more than 11 per cent of the country’s GDP. The country leads Latin America in gold production and is also a significant producer of zinc. Approximately 80 per cent of Peru’s mining equipment needs are supplied through imports. Last year’s mining equipment imports were estimated at U.S. $1.4 billion, according to the National Society of Mining, Petroleum and Energy.
Canada is the largest mining investor in Peru with 80 mining companies operating there, including some of the larger players like Barrick Gold, Placer Dome, SNC-Lavalin and Hatch, said Bradette,
EXTEMIN is expected to attract 12,000 attendees from 28 countries and more than 600 exhibitors representing Canada, the U.S., Germany, Spain, South Africa, Australia and Chile.
Brazil is the fifth largest mineral producer in the world, according to Bradette.
In 2007, the country’s market for mining equipment was estimated at U.S. $3.8 billion, of which U.S. $400 million were imports from Germany, Italy, the U.S., Canada, Finland, Argentina and China, according to a 2008 government trade report.
