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E-mail: clockhart@edmontonians.com.
Click here to
see archive editions of International Business.
 Greater Edmonton International Business
With Cheryl Lockhart
Exploring the linkages outside of Alberta
The World Trade Centre (WTC), the international division
of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, has been operational since 2004 from its
premises on the sixth floor of its Jasper Avenue location. The impressive
facility has been host to a number of events since then. With changes afoot at
the organization, it could soon become a larger force in promoting and
facilitating trade for businesses in Edmonton and what Martin Salloum
calls the World Trade Centre Northern Economic Region.
 I
chatted with the Chamber president about the WTC and its evolution. Salloum
explained that, “The Chamber is a locally focused organization providing
networks for our members. 90 percent of our members join for the networking.
But, what we realized, is that for a certain contingent of our membership,
networking needed to expand beyond metro-Edmonton. For that reason, two
full-time staff members are now being dedicated exclusively to the World Trade
Centre.” Keith Persaud and Chris O’Brien have been reassigned from
other positions to expand the presence and activities of the WTC.
It’s all about acting as a facilitator to attract and
encourage foreign trade. The WTC intends to work closely with existing export
service providers such as the Business Link’s Export Link but has some of
its own initiatives planned. First up is a virtual trade mission with South
Carolina, followed by a real trade mission to the state. “South Carolina
businesses have extensive experience working with Canadians in Eastern Canada
and are anxious to develop linkages in the West.”
In addition to their responsibilities developing linkages
with other countries, Persaud and O’Brien will reach out to northern communities
in Alberta, British Columbia and all three territories. The WTC facility is
being touted as a “home away from home” for northern companies to use as a base
while in Edmonton on business. The WTC views other Canadian provinces and
territories to be untapped, “foreign” frontiers and is doing its part to help
connect its members with northern enterprises. The recent signing of the
Trade, Investment and Mobility Agreement between British Columbia and
Alberta serves as a reminder of how barriers to trade between provinces are much
like those between countries—despite the best efforts of bilateral and
multilateral trade deals. Even within the same country, there are cultural,
language and regulatory obstacles that sometimes must be overcome and the WTC is
hoping its efforts will remove some of them.
FOND
FAREWELL
I’m sorry to report that this is my last column with Edmontonians. Like so many
of my fellow entrepreneurs, priorities shift and change—mine took a giant leap
when I became a mom seven months ago. Given the demands of a newborn and the
continuing growth of my consulting business, I made the tough decision to
discontinue my column. I will miss the opportunity it has afforded me to meet
some fantastic Edmontonians in the field of international business; I hope that
their stories have inspired you to look beyond our borders and consider the
opportunities that await. I am a big believer that Canadian companies need to be
bigger players on the international stage—a cause I will continue to champion.Cheryl Lockhart owns International Strategies Ltd.,
specializing in export-related planning and marketing. E-mail:
clockhart@edmontonians.com
Click here to
see archive editions of International Business.
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