BC – A new international market development strategy has been unveiled to bring BC’s agrifood and seafood products to the world. The strategy aims to build on the record $3.5 billion worth of BC products exported in 2015.
The strategy focuses on providing programs and services that support three key areas: market knowledge, generating investment, and building networks, that collectively support success for BC companies in the marketplace.
Research has demonstrated that businesses entering new markets need market knowledge to succeed. The strategy emphasizes that by accessing customized market profiles, cost-competitive analysis and advisory services, as well as attending market readiness seminars and workshops, BC companies can be better informed and prepared to succeed in attracting new customers in new markets.
Export success or failure can depend on the quality and reliability of information and the established contacts on the ground in the new market. The Strategy highlights the value that having BC Trade and Investment Representatives in 13 international locations can provide in helping connect BC companies with buyers and trade representatives in key markets, as can participating in incoming and outgoing trade missions, and tradeshows and promotional events.
The strategy identifies the U.S., China, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong as priority markets for exports, as well as 17 secondary priority markets, and others with long-term growth potential. The strategy includes goals and targets for export growth, the diversification of export markets, the development of export capacity, knowledge and skills, and the opening of new markets for BC products.
BC food businesses exported more than 600 types of foods to over 150 markets in 2015 with exports reaching a record $3.5 billion. The BC government’s Export Ready Business Catalogue is also now available in Chinese, Japanese and Korean and has been distributed through BC government trade offices in all three countries. The guide represents BC’s diverse agri-food and seafood sector, and includes profiles of about 100 BC producers of fruits and vegetables, seafood, meat, packaged food, natural health products and beverage makers, ready to export BC products.
The International Market Development Strategy and the Export Ready Business Catalogue are funded through Growing Forward 2, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative that provides a $3-billion investment over five years in innovation, competitiveness and market development.