Representatives of eight mining supply companies from Ontario will be in Arequipa, Peru, Sept. 12-16 to drum up business in the South American country.
The Ontario ministries of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) and Economic Development and Trade team up to organize two foreign trade missions per year for mining supply companies.
Participants pay a small fee for the service and cover their own travel costs.
In June, the Ontario government led a similar trip to the Exponor show in Chile. The Ontario government has organized two previous trips to the EXTEMIN trade show in Peru, which is held every two years.
MNDM trade co-ordinator Jock Forbes said the trade missions are designed for small companies that might not otherwise attend these events.
Participating in a foreign trade show might cost $15,000 without the help of the government, he said.
“What we're really trying to do is target first-time exhibitors. This is not intended for big companies,” said Forbes.
“It's for small companies that have some good products or technologies, have proven themselves in Northern Ontario and Canada, and now want to broaden their market reach.”
The Ontario government will ship their displays to Peru and provide three shared booths at the trade show.
The government is also supplying Spanish-language interpreters and printing Spanish-language pamphlets with information about the products and services offered by participating companies.
A reception where Peruvian buyers can network with Ontario mining suppliers in a relaxed atmosphere is also being sponsored by the government.
Eighteen Peruvian mine managers, superintendents and consultants who visited Sudbury in May to learn about Canadian mining technology have been invited to the reception.
Forbes has high hopes the Ontario contingent will make several business deals in Peru.
Peru’s underground and open pit mining operations produce copper, zinc, gold and lead. About 50 per cent of the country's exports come from the mining industry, Forbes said.
Several Canadian companies, including Barrick Gold and Teck Cominco, have mines in the country.
“Whenever we go to Peru and have a reception, we always seem to meet a lot of ex-pat Canadians. That really helps because Canadians tend to support other Canadians,” he said.
