麻豆视频

Mike Popowich, the current president of the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce, has taken on a new role as a board member with Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership.

Popowich, who is co-owner and manager of the grain processing and packaging company TA Foods Ltd in Yorkton, said his company has been 鈥渁 member of STEP for five years.鈥�

In that time TA Foods has utilized the provincial organization on several occasions in terms of attending trade shows with STEP, and utilizing their services in developing export markets for their flax oil products.

That is essentially why STEP exists to 鈥渃hampion the province鈥檚 export industry and assists provincial businesses in realizing global marketing opportunities,鈥� notes the group鈥檚 website.

STEP is 鈥渁 member-driven, non-profit corporation dedicated to increasing Saskatchewan鈥檚 export activities while raising awareness of our province鈥檚 distinct products and services.

Linking Saskatchewan suppliers with the global marketplace - STEP is a direct connection to expertise, markets, and global networks. They offer members a variety of services and programs that can help diversify customer bases and grow business.

As part of the partnership Popowich said as an example he was a speaker at a STEP trade conference focused on Asia, where he spoke from the perspective of the 鈥渇lax聽industry as a whole for Canada.鈥�

So when asked to let his name stand for election to the board, Popowich took it.

鈥淏oth sides thought it was a good opportunity,鈥� he said.

The opportunity turned into his being elected to three-year term.

Typically board meetings are held in Regina or Saskatoon, although STEP recently had one meeting in Humboldt which afforded an opportunity to meet directly with export oriented businesses there.

The Humboldt meeting was hosted by the local Chamber, and Popowich said he is hoping with his connection to the Yorkton Chamber a future STEP board meeting can be held here.

Popowich said he hopes past experiences help him settle into his new role quickly, pointing at his involvement with the Yorkton Chamber and as a director of the Flax Council of Canada.

鈥淚 think that (experience) helped get the votes,鈥� for the STEP position, he said.

Popowich said he has no specific goals as a director, but added he does believe in the important role STEP can play in helping business access export markets.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e not directly involved in exports you don鈥檛 know how much goes outside Saskatchewan, outside Canada,鈥� he said, adding STEP can help industry access international markets.

Popowich said while there is greater potential for exports because of current technologies connecting buyers with sellers, having some help certainly opens doors more smoothly. He said TA Foods has made sales in Asia with people they have never met, but STEP has helped the process by giving information which gave them confidence that they would be paid for product sent.

Without having STEP involved 鈥渋t鈥檚 a lot harder to access information on how to do it (export),鈥� said Popowich.

STEP was officially launched on Aug. 21, 1996 with a mandate to increase Saskatchewan鈥檚 exports to existing markets and to tap into new markets by initiating sales, contracts, and projects for Saskatchewan exporters.