Province appoints newest export advisor to support Indigenous business

Members of the Ministry of Jobs, Trades, and Technology met at the Moccasin Square Gardens in Kamloops today to appoint the province's newest export advisor.

Bruce Ralston, the Minister of Jobs, Trades, and Technology, was on hand to introduce Daphne Nelson to the position part of the Export Navigator Program. She joins a team of nine advisors around the province who provide personalized approaches to help businesses become export ready.

"Export Navigator is a program that the province has developed which is a great program because it gives people access to a very skilled and knowledgeable person, one on one, who will help them assess their company, build a program and then take the steps that are necessary to be successful," said Ralston. "It's a bit different from accessing a website or going to a one-day course."

"You have a continuing relationship with a pretty expert person and that really has made all the difference. I've talked to a few businesses that have been in the program and that's why we decided to make it a permanent program."

The program, which has been supporting businesses since 2015, was tested as a pilot but has now been expanded to help over 300 businesses. Nelson is the newest advisor to the program and the only new face this year.

"I think she is the only one that is new this year. We're moving forward in a measured way. The focus of this particular program is businesses that are outside the Lower Mainland. About 60% of small businesses are actually in the Lower Mainland, but this program focuses on the 40% of businesses that are not in the Lower Mainland."

"About 300, it continues on. There is a pretty strong referral network through the Community Futures, the Women's Enterprise Centre, so people find out about it that way and make a decision on whether they want to participate."

"I know she is very capable, very experienced... I am confident that the right decision has been made and she is and will continue to be excellent."

Nelson explained she was grateful for the opportunity and plans to immediately start helping these Indigenous businesses.

"I've always believed that strong communities are built through partnerships and I strive to make connections to help people be successful," said Nelson. "Partnership programs between Indigenous businesses, government, and economic business involvement agencies like the aforementioned Small Business BC, Committing Futures, and Women's Enterprise Centre are critical for the promotion of economic prosperity."

"It's important that small businesses in all communities across BC have access to supports they need to increase their business revenue and create good jobs to the people who live in those communities. I've always had a strong connection to small business community and wanted to make sure that Indigineous entrepreneurs take their companies to the next level with the Export Navigator program."

The Province is contributing $2 million over two years toward the program, with a third year of funding to be confirmed following a review of program outcomes.

Nelson will be based out of the Community Futures Development Corporation of the Central Interior First Nations in Kamloops. For more information on the new export advisor and the Export Navigator program, click here.