NEWS RELEASES
MARCHI WELCOMES NEW DATA ON BUSINESS WOMEN EXPORTERS
March 8, 1999 (12:00 p.m. EST) No. 49
MARCHI WELCOMES NEW DATA ON
BUSINESSWOMEN EXPORTERS
International Trade Minister Sergio Marchi today welcomed the results of a new report, Beyond Borders --
Canadian Businesswomen in International Trade, which shows that Canadian businesswomen are becoming a
new force in export markets. The report was the focus of a teleconference linking businesswomen at International
Women's Day events in nine Canadian cities as well as Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Buenos Aires and London,
England. It was produced by the Trade Research Coalition (TRC), a public-/private-sector consortium of individuals
and organizations set up by the Minister to study the international trade activities of Canadian businesswomen and
to recommend ways of expanding their participation in the export market.
"We knew that women-led SMEs [small- and medium-sized enterprises] had become a significant force in the
domestic Canadian economy," said Mr. Marchi, "and we had good data on the rapid rate at which they were
starting new businesses and creating new jobs. But until this report was done, we didn't know much about their
international activities."
It is well documented that Canadian women are starting new businesses at twice the rate of firms in general, and
that one third of self-employed entrepreneurs in Canada are now women. However, very little data existed on their
export activities. The TRC study addressed this information gap by drawing on 254 survey responses by Canadian
businesswomen to create a profile of women-led, export-oriented SMEs. The report reveals that women-led
businesses are active exporters. Seventy-six percent of the exporting companies surveyed are product-based, and
22 percent are services companies. They earn more than 40 percent of their revenues from export sales, and they
are exporting all over the world. The study also shows that most women exporters enter foreign markets fairly
quickly, usually within two years of start-up.
"The Beyond Borders report tells us that Canadian businesswomen are achieving real success in the export
marketplace," said Mr. Marchi. "I see great potential to build on this success and I look forward to continuing to
work with the Trade Research Coalition on ways to promote the interests of Canada's businesswomen in world
markets."
The Canadian TRC study relied on the contribution and co-operation of many public and private sector sponsors.
The Royal Bank of Canada, along with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, was a Platinum
Sponsor of the study.
The study, and a parallel study from the United States, will form the basis for policy discussions and strategic
planning at the Canada-U.S. Businesswomen's Trade Summit, to be hosted by Canada in Toronto in May 1999.
The TRC Report is available at the following Web site:
http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/businesswomen/menu-e.asp
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Leslie Swartman
Office of the Minister for International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
(613) 995-1874
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