September 15, 2016 - Tyler Kula, The Observer - Businesses looking for an exporting market and not sure how to make the leap are about to get some help.The Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce has pulled together national and local expertise into a 15-member committee designed to nurture �exporting culture� in this U.S. border community.Doing that means �connecting small and medium-sized business to people and resources that they need in order to capitalize on global business opportunities,� said Shirley de Silva, president and CEO of the Sarnia-Lambton chamber.�It�s a grassroots effort to develop a community of export companies in Sarnia-Lambton,� she said.After a year of laying the groundwork, the committee is officially opening its services to the business community Oct. 7 � also �Manufacturing Day.� A launch event is scheduled at the Creative Education of Canada distribution centre in Point Edward.Creative Education is the parent company of Great Pretenders which manufactures and exports costumes and pretend-play toys for kids.Founder Joyce Keelan is set to offer advice to budding exporters.�Depending on what your product is and what your goals are, I guess, there are a lot of opportunities out there,� said de Silva. �If you�re not sure how to go about it, then the GBOC group � the Global Business Opportunities Committee � can certainly help link you with the resources that you need in order to make it happen.�The initiative builds on a formal partnership between Sarnia and London chambers of commerce inked almost two years ago to find global markets for local businesses.The partnership ship was endorsed by both cities� mayors.�We�re also hoping to reach out to other chambers that are a good fit for it,� de Silva said.Plans are to also launch a LinkedIn page for GBOC, she said.Some committee members include Export Development Canada, Global Affairs Canada, the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, Sarnia Lambton Business Development Corporation, Sarnia-Lambton Industrial Alliance, Lambton College Applied Research and Innovation, Field Farms Marketing, and the chamber.For more information, contact the chamber at 519-336-2400. ;tkula@postmedia.com
