Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP) was officially launched on August 21, 1996 with a mandate to increase Saskatchewan's exports to existing markets and to tap into new markets by initiating sales, contracts, and projects for Saskatchewan exporters.
Operating as a government/industry partnership, STEP champions the province’s export industry and assists provincial businesses in realizing global marketing opportunities while finding custom solutions for Saskatchewan exporters.
As a non-profit, membership based organization, STEP brings these resources together to provide world-class specially tailored services and programs that are of primary value to companies who are exporting outside the borders of Saskatchewan. These services include Trade Development, Market Intelligence, International Finance and Logistics, and International Development Projects.
MEMBERSHIP CORE SERVICES
Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP) provides core services essential to international marketing. Services are structured to develop member export sales and enable them to stay strong in the global marketplace. Services and programs include:
Services
1. Trade Development - provide advice and guidance on opportunities in the market and work with companies on outgoing and incoming trade missions.
2. Market Intelligence - provide customized market intelligence for your products or services in markets of interest to you.
3. International Finance & Logistics - provide custom export finance and logistics solutions by having one-on-one consultations with members.
4. International Projects - provide relevant information on STEP’s current project portfolio and the member opportunities contained within as well as information on STEP’s overall policy, direction and interest in international development projects.
5. Qualified Trade Leads - provide qualified trade leads to companies for you to pursue.
6. Education & Networking Events - provide ongoing export training sessions and networking events at member rates.
7. Company Profiling & Information - enhanced member search capabilities on the STEP website and member profile on flash drive promotional device. Provided with bi-monthly international business publication - Global Ventures.
8. Member Discounts - provide discounts to members for events and also provides members with discounts with various partners including hotels, travel agencies, and consultants through the discounts program on the member’s only side of the website.
9. Advisory Services - receive assistance for Internet and Social Media Counseling to promote your product and services and get the right qualified leads to your web site.
10. Virtual Trade Missions - meet buyers using video conferencing or meet them right from your desktop computer.
Programs
1. Expanding Business - Building Capacity: Agri-Value Marketing Internship Program - Provides funding to recent graduates or graduate students to work on marketing projects by providing salary assistance up to 50% to a maximum of $1500 and travel costs up to a maximum of 50% to a maximum of $3000 to assist the intern in completing in-market research.
2. FITTskills International Trade Training - The premier international trade training program in Canada for international business professionals. As the primary path to obtaining the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) Designation, participants receive the essential knowledge needed to exceed in the international market place. Courses provide participants with the theory behind international trade and information and processes needed to perform international trade.
3. Market Access Program (MAP) - A funding program designed to support the domestic and international marketing efforts of STEP regular members. Funds are provided to assist member companies in entering new markets or are entering into a new market sector or market segment outside of Saskatchewan.
4. Exporter Readiness Program - A program to arm Saskatchewan companies with the resources and tools that will enable them to build export capacity and knowledge. This program will benefit a company with an exportable product/service and has the motivation/desire to develop the skills to sell into a foreign market.
