By ADELLE LARMOUR
FedNor’s Team Northern Ontario (TNO) has received the Community Export Development Award from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
Developed in 2003 as part of the FedNor Trade Strategy through its International Business Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, a network of five community-based business organizations across Northern Ontario were partnered to provide regional trade support to small and medium-sized businesses.
They include the North Bay Chamber of Commerce, the City of Greater Sudbury, the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation, the Nord-Aski Regional Economic Development Corporation and the Northwestern Ontario Development Network.
Collectively, the network provides access to trade information and services by helping existing exporters develop new markets through awareness, assistance for export ventures and counselling.
With the pan-Northern approach, TNO’s trade advisors are able to recruit businesses from across the North, increasing exposure for Northern products and services.
As well, members meet monthly to work collectively on trade missions, conferences and client services. An exporter database has also been developed which lists over 460 companies currently exporting or interested in expanding their markets.
Early last summer, the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce organized a trade mission to Finland and Sweden on behalf of Team Northern Ontario. The trip’s aim was to pursue business matchmaking opportunities with overseas companies.
TNO trade advisors have led other missions to Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, Chile, Germany and Italy.
Senior trade advisor Jay Aspin said the award is “an incentive for us to build this network even harder for economic development in Northern Ontario.”
