Prince Rupert Port Authority has launched a new $250,000 funding initiative to help communities and economic development agencies in Western Canada assess new export opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region. The Export Development Fund was created to assist eligible organizations in developing new export opportunities across Canada’s northwest trade corridor. Opportunities could be related to an existing industry entering new markets, new or expanded industries that would be viable for export, or existing export industries that are not currently using the port of Prince Rupert.
“Export-oriented industries have a disproportionately large impact on our local economies, and are critical to achieving economic growth and expansion,” said Ken Veldman, Director of Public Affairs for the Port. “By focusing on regional export ‘clusters’, and their need for competitive, reliable access to the markets that provide the most value, we hope to support a practical approach to growing our collective export trade portfolio.”
The goal of the Fund is to help identify and develop export opportunities, ultimately strengthening the economic vitality of communities across the northwest trade corridor. Throughout 2018 the Port will be working with interested organizations in a process that will hopefully see the fund fully allocated across multiple worthy projects.
The Port will be introducing a formal application process for the Fund over the coming weeks. For more information, please visit www.rupertport.com/port-authority/edf.