Geoscientists continue international focus

With domestic work for Canadian geoscientists having diminished over recent years, many individuals and companies are being forced to broaden their horizons and search for opportunities outside the country.

An organization formed to further this endeavor and promote the Canadian geoscience industry abroad is the Canadian Association of Geoscience Companies (ACGC).

When it was created in 1991 under the banner of the Canadian Geophysical Congress, the organization set several objectives for itself. These included: * promoting geoscience in the export market;

* increasing sales of Canadian geoscience goods and services; * increasing awareness of Canadian expertise and contributions to international markets;

* providing members with a broad base of marketing and sales information; and * promoting co-operative and strategic alliances among members so as to develop international projects.

Since its inception, ACGC membership has risen to more than 80 organizations from across Canada. These companies operate mainly in the fields of exploration, environmental science and remote sensing-geographical information systems.

Recently in Markham, Ont., The Northern Miner joined more than 30 delegates and guests at the annual meeting of the ACGC. The event focused on membership, financing and funding activities, as well as past developments and areas of potential growth.

Differences in opinion were expressed with regard to how funds should be allocated and what the priorities of the association should be. Questions were also raised regarding the dissemination of information on foreign contracts to members and how aggressively the association should be seeking such contracts. ACGC Director Frank Bottos urged members to discuss possible solutions to these problems.

The ACGC is funded by membership dues and government. Membership dues are payable on a sliding scale up to $500, depending on the number of employees in the firm. In the fiscal year ending March 31, these dues represented 5% of the association’s 1994 budget, with the federal government contributing $140,000, or 60%.

Representatives from seven federal and provincial agencies and ministries were invited to discuss their respective mandates and how they could assist the ACGC by acting as a liaison with foreign governments.

David Reid, manager of the Business Development Unit of the Ministry of the Environment & Energy, spoke about how marketing alliances amongst exporters can contribute to the winning of environmental contracts.

The main message of the meeting was clear: For the geoscience industry to survive, success in international markets is essential.