Virtual trade mission opens doors for export.

Call it a virtual icebreaker; mining supply companies from northeastern Ontario participated in a first-ever-for-the-north virtual trade mission March 26 which connected Sudbury to potential business partners in Chile.

"This is, in a sense, our first date," announced Jock Forbes, a provincial trade co-ordinator, over a high-speed integrated systems digital network line to a roomful of mining equipment suppliers in Santiago, Chile who could potentially act as agents and representatives for Northern Ontario firms.

The morning session was a precursory step for eight export-ready northern companies assembled at Sudbury's Contact North offices to make some two-way visual introductions prior to jetting off on an Ontario-led trade mission to Expomin 2002.

The May 7 to 11 mining congress and equipment show in Santiago is billed as "the world's largest mining fair in the world's most important mining area."

Aside from some slight initial technical glitches, Forbes says the sessions have proven quite satisfactory when applied in other sectors of Ontario.

"We're playing with it, but it's something we think will get better with time"

The virtual session's aim was to make some early contacts and gauge the level of interest among their Chilean counterparts for possible matchmaking opportunities.

An Ontario Export's consultant in Chile during the link-up was prepared to line up meetings with agents or potential buyers during the May mining expo.

Chile is a major gold and copper producer expected to receive $2 billion US in foreign investment in its mining sector this year, mainly in new projects.

Mining companies there are looking for expertise in engineering, construction, prospecting, heavy-machinery operation and infrastructure among other sector-related needs.

The event was organized in part by Ontario Exports, the lead trade agency of the provincial government and its in-house Virtual Team Ontario, responsible for setting up Internet sessions to identify new international business opportunities.

Forbes, a Ministry of Northern Development and Mines trade co-ordinator, has been co-operating with the City of Greater Sudbury and the Canadian Association of Mining Equipment and Services for Expert (CAMESE) in recruiting small- to medium-sized mining suppliers going on the mission to look for partners.

"If you're into a foreign market you really have to have people on the ground.

"The mining companies won't deal with you unless you have people who can provide after-sales service and somebody they can talk to all the time. On occasion you might be able to sell direct, but if you're going into most markets you have to have somebody locally who can represent you."

For Ontario Exports' first virtual connection in the north, Forbes says the mining sector was a natural choice for export-ready firms, though there could be other virtual missions planned in other sectors depending upon regional interest.

"This is the start of networking," says Forbes. "They're making contacts here, they can make appointments and start putting a name to a face. Now they already have their introductions so (the participants) are one step ahead of somebody who's going down on the trade mission cold and knows nobody."

Forbes says Canadian companies have a distinct advantage not enjoyed by the U.S. and European countries.

"A free-trade agreement exists between Canada and Chile whereby Canadian companies have a cost advantage of roughly 11 per cent, which is substantial."

Paul Reid, an economic development officer for the City of Greater Sudbury, foresees future applications of the technology in other sectors.

"Our goal is to do more of these with the resource-sector in mining supply and forestry so it could be used basically anywhere."

And it is a very cost-effective way of establishing initial business relationships and assess prospects, he says.

www.ontario-canada.com/export