Welcome to E-News! from The Business Link! We hope you enjoy this quick monthly e-newsletter to keep you informed of upcoming events and services at The Business Link and other items of interest to Alberta's small business community.

Your feedback is welcome at any time to help us improve and enhance our services for Alberta entrepreneurs. Simply use the "Feedback" function located on the toolbar at the top of E-News! to send us your views.

World economic growth is expected to increase by about four per cent in 2003, according to an Alberta Economic Development report, Global Economic Outlook 2002-2003, released in June. The estimate exceeds the expected growth of between 2.6 and 3.1 per cent for 2002. Growth in international exports and imports is expected to exceed seven per cent in 2003.

The report provides an economic outlook of key regions and countries of the world, with a focus on areas with close economic ties to Alberta.

"Economic diversification and a strong performance in the past year mean that Alberta is well-positioned to take advantage of the improving global economic outlook," said Economic Development Minister Mark Norris. "Because Alberta is an exporting economy, world trade growth estimates for 2003 are a particularly positive sign."

In 2001, Alberta's economy grew by 4.5 per cent, the fastest rate of growth in Canada. More than $56.9 billion of goods were exported to more than 170 countries, seeing an increase of 2.8 per cent in provincial exports.

Global Economic Outlook 2002-2003 is based on information collected from a number of international forecasting agencies. It is available on Alberta Economic Development's web site at
http://www.alberta-canada.com/statpub/econout.cfm

View the news release at: http://www.gov.ab.ca/acn/200206/12590.html

Thinking of exporting? Let The Business Link help you succeed in world markets.

Although exporting can bring significant benefits, it can also place demands on companies, large and small, that they may not be prepared to meet. The Business Link, Alberta's entry port for export information, works to help entrepreneurs find answers to their exporting questions in several ways.

You can access our export services and expertise by calling Team Canada Inc's export information line (1-888-811-1119). Our trained information officers answer enquiries from companies at all stages of exporting and can refer you to the export programs or services that best meet your needs. You can also take advantage of our Library's extensive collection of reference material (trade data, market information, directories and publications), our government programs and services database, and our web site, which offers valuable information on importing and exporting, as well as numerous carefully categorized links of value to exporters.

The Business Link is also a member of two networks of export service providers: Team Canada Inc and Trade Team Alberta, partnerships of key public and private sector organizations offering trade-related services to active and potential exporters.

If you're wondering how much you should pay your employees, gain insight through the Alberta Wage and Salary Survey. The study, sponsored by Human Resources Development Canada, provides information on wages and salaries for full-time employees in Alberta by occupation, geographic area, and industry group. Wage data was collected for over 500 occupations.

The Business Link’s newly established E-Future Centre is your first stop for e-business information in Alberta. Find the information, contacts, and advice you need to make more informed e-business decisions by calling our toll-free information line -- 1-800-272-9675. (Stay tuned for the launch of the E-Future web site coming soon...)

We are also in the process of setting up 11 Mini E-Future Centres across the province, providing e-business resources in the following 11 locations:

• Calgary Business Information Centre
• Entre-Corp Business Development Centre, Medicine Hat
• Lethbridge & District Business Development Centre Association
• Grande Prairie Centre for Business Development
• Lloydminster Region Community Futures Development Corporation
• The Business and Education Link, Barrhead
• Red Deer and District Business Development Corporation
• Tawatinaw Community Futures Development Corporation, Westlock
• Highwood Business Development Corporation, High River
• Mackenzie Economic Development Corporation, High Level
• Lamont-Two Hills Business Development Corporation, Two Hills

Tourism in Alberta generates over $4 billion in revenues each year.

If you are looking for the best location for your summer vacation, think Alberta! Wide open spaces, crystal-clear lakes, ancient dinosaur beds, tumbling glaciers, Chinooks, festivals... the further you venture into this outdoor playground, the more you'll marvel at Alberta's staggering abundance. And you'll be supporting many small businesses within the province by vacationing "at home". For more information, visit Travel Alberta at: http://travelalberta.com/madetoorder.

July 2002
Issue 2

In this Issue... Business News Flash Explore the Global Marketplace Feature Web Site When opportunity clicks... Did You Know?

Working in the community

The Business Link works in partnership with 33 Regional Access Sites located throughout the province, plus the Calgary Business Information Centre (CBIC), to provide information and resources to Alberta entrepreneurs. These regional sites include community futures organizations, other economic development agencies, libraries and colleges.

For locations and contact information for these Regional Access Sites, consult http://www.cbsc.org/
alberta/tbl.cfm?
fn=community.

Membership has its privileges

The Business Link is proud to host the best small business library collection in Alberta! Take advantage of the great resources available to Alberta entrepreneurs.

You'll have access to an extensive resource collection either in print, video or electronic format. The world of business information can seem overwhelming, but the Library staff are committed to doing their best to help you find the information you need for your business – they'll even provide basic research services to you at no cost.

For borrowing privileges, become a Library member for the nominal annual fee of $10.

A description of The Business Link Library is available on our web site. http://www.cbsc.org/
alberta/tbl.cfm?
fn=library