Trade Fairs and Missions

Eligibility Criteria

• be incorporated and operating in Canada;
• produce a product or service with 50% or more Canadian content and/or are likely to generate significant economic benefits for Canada;
• have fulfilled reporting repayment requirements on all Program for Export Market Development (PEMD) projects;
• be registered with ITCan's Virtual Trade Commissioner (VTC) database or Industry Canada's Canadian Company Capabilities. 

Q.  What is meant by Canadian Content?

A.  This means that the exported product has a label of "Made in Canada", "Assembled in Canada", "Processed in Canada", "Printed in Canada" or "Packaged in Canada," etc., according to the Competition Bureau's Guide to "Made in Canada" Claims.

Q.  What is meant by significant economic benefits for Canada?

A.  This means economic benefits obtained from products or services that derive from research, development, design, management, assembly, finishing and completion, refurbishing or maintenance performed in Canada. In other words, did the product or service acquire significant value-added in Canada?

Summary

What services are available?

The six core services provided by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) at the offices abroad include market prospects, visit information, local company information, key contacts searches, face-to-face briefings, and troubleshooting. Market prospects include notifying Canadian clients of upcoming events (trade fairs, conferences, seminars, trade missions) through the use of the Virtual Trade Commissioner and InfoExport.

For the following services, the TCS will refer clients to a third-party who generally charges a fee: extensive program of appointments, logistical support, business support services, participation in events, temporary office or display space. For more information on TCS services, please visit their Web site.

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service provides support for trade missions that cover various sectors of Canadian industry and diverse international markets. The roles and responsibilities of the TCS and other trade mission participants are clarified in advance of the event using the Business Mission Agreement.

ITCan recruits companies and establishes an itinerary based on the needs of the participants, and briefing sessions are held to explain local market practices and customs. Industry participants must pay all their direct costs, i.e. airfare, accommodation, meals, etc. In addition, companies must pay a participation fee which is used to offset such costs as hospitality, group transportation, publicity and rental of meeting rooms.

Outgoing Trade Missions

Outgoing trade missions are visits by selected Canadian firms to a target foreign market. They provide an opportunity for new-to-market companies to obtain current information and intelligence in preparation for market entry. Participants gain exposure and establish key contacts in the target market. This enables them to make informed decisions upon which they can build their export marketing plans.

Incoming Trade Missions

Incoming trade missions are visits to Canada by foreign buyers/investors, designed to increase the visitors' knowledge of Canada as a potential source of supply, a place of investment, or to arrange a joint venture. They enable Canadian companies included in the itinerary to promote their goods/services to the visitors and develop important business contacts.

Trade Fairs

Trade fairs abroad covering various industry sectors and a broad range of export markets provide exporters, interested or newly established in the target market, with an opportunity to promote their products and services, identify potential sales opportunities, develop valuable business contacts and/or locate agents and distributors. Trade fairs also enable participants to assess competition from other suppliers and gather other market intelligence which will assist them to penetrate the market. Trade fair participation is funded through cost-sharing, so charges for participating companies will vary. The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service will contract out to third parties the coordination of exhibits, rental of exhibit space, design, construnction, set-up and dismantling of exhibit structures. The TCS may provide official hospitality and a coordinated publicity program in the context of a Business Mission Agreement.

Yukon Contact(s):
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Room 2000
300 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia  V6B 6E1
Telephone: (604) 666-0434
Fax: (604) 666-0954
Toll-free (information): 1-800-267-8376
TTY (hearing impaired): (613) 944-9136
E-mail: itc-vancouver@ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.international.gc.ca/menu-en.asp