VICTORIA –BC’s Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation is asking business owners in rural and Indigenous communities to take advantage of free expert advice and resources as they recover from the pandemic through the Province’s Export Navigator program.
Export Navigator advisers help small business owners identify new market opportunities, provide referrals to provincial and federal services, funding and business connections and offer logistical, customs and financing support.
“Since 2016, Export Navigator has helped more than 700 B.C. businesses export their products across Canada and internationally,” saidRavi Kahlon, B.C.’s Minister of Jobs.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, advisers have expanded their areas of support to include online sales development, crisis business planning and helping owners access provincial and federal COVID-19 business supports,” he informed.
There are nine Export Navigator advisers who offer expert advice. Their clients are businesses owned by Indigenous Peoples and by women and youth, and business owners in these regions: Vancouver Island North; Vancouver Island South; the Cariboo; Thompson-Okanagan; Kootenay Boundary; Pacific Northwest; and Northeast.
The Export Navigator program is managed by the Province in partnership with Pacific Economic Development Canada and delivered through Small Business BC and Community Futures. Since 2019, the Province has provided $3.6 million and the Pacific Economic Development Canada has provided $2.25 million for the program.
Mel Divers, owner of Moonshine Mama’s Elixirs, never imagined herself as a business owner, but a cancer diagnosis led her down a path to create natural immune-boosting drinks to help her recover from chemotherapy. As time progressed, the Salt Spring Island resident found herself sharing her concoctions at farmers’ markets. Soon she connected with an Export Navigator adviser. They worked together to expand across Canada. Later this year, she will begin shipping her product to the United States.
“Because of Export Navigator, I now have the research, connections and the plan to start expanding to new markets,” said Divers. “The most exciting part of exporting to me is still just getting the next order. I’m happy to see customers from across the country support my business.”
According to the ministry, “Since 2019, Export Navigator companies’ sales within Canada have grown by more than $6 million and internationally, by nearly $11 million.”
