Aboriginal Planet Business Centre

Welcome to the Export Services for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Export Services, Market Support Division (TCM) at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

We work with Aboriginal companies who sell products or services that are ready for the international market place. Below you will find some interesting information on trade related issues. TCM is also co-chair of the Aboriginal International Business Development committee which consists of 29 federal government departments and agencies. The mandate of the committee is to promote aboriginal export-market development and access to world markets.

Please check the DFAIT site for other important services we provide including the Trade Commissioner Services and read about the latest Success Stories of Aboriginal Canadian exporters: May, 2003 .

Virtual Trade Commissioner

The Virtual Trade Commissioner is your personal gateway to the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service. Just imagine...

• Receiving a personalized Web page containing market information and business leads that match your international business interests
• Requesting services online from the Trade Commissioners responsible for your industry in the markets of interest to you
• Being notified of new information related to your industry and target markets as it becomes available
• Making information on your company available to the 500 Trade Commissioners in our 140 offices abroad
• Login to your Virtual Trade Commissioner anytime to view market information, business opportunities, make service requests and even update your company's registration information. Best of all, it's FREE! ! !

• Take a tour at http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/tour/english/main.htm
• Register now at: http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/registration/en/RegistrationMain.jsp

And receive our export newsletter on line at:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canadexport/menu-en.asp

If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to call the Team Canada Inc hot line at 1-888-811-1119 or e-mail TCM at: tcm@dfait-maeci.gc.ca.

1. Publications:
   Aboriginal Exporters Directory 2002.
   The Aboriginal International Business Development (AIBD) Committee is pleased to present the Aboriginal Exporters Directory 2002, Second Edition. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises that are listed in this directory are either export-ready or active exporters. The first edition of the directory was released in 1999 with a listing of 218 companies. The second edition contains 470 companies.
   Download the Aboriginal Exporters Directory 2002 (PDF 1090 Kb)

2. CanadExport Aboriginal Articles:
   Aboriginal International Business Supplement, CanadExport November 2001 Success stories of Aboriginal International Business Activities in 2000/2001
   Business Supplement (English | French)
   
   Native American Business Alliance (NABA) 2001 Convention Some 34 Canadian Aboriginal companies and organizations participated in a three-day trade mission to the United States coinciding with the Native American Business Alliance (www.native-american-bus.org) (NABA) 2001 Convention. Organized by the Canadian Consulate General in Minneapolis, the mission was designed for Aboriginal-owned companies and economic development organizations wishing to pursue business opportunities in the United States.
   

3. Market Reports:
   Export Market Reports for Canadian Aboriginal Cultural Exporters; http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/ie-en/EServices.jsp

   1. Marketing Pacific Northwest Coast native Arts and Crafts in Alaska, Washington, Oregon and BC
   2. Canadian Aboriginal Art and Craft Market - U.S.
   3. Australian Market for Canadian Aboriginal Cultural Industries
   4. The Native Arts and Handicraft Market in Belgium
   5. Aboriginal Arts and Crafts Market - Germany

   6. The Aboriginal Arts and crafts Market Italy

4. Award Winners:
   Harry Cook, President of Kitsaki Meats Limited Partnership was the presented with the Canada Export Award 2001 Aboriginal Achievement Award. To read his profile:
   http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/awards-prix/awards/2001/kitsaki_meatslg-e.htm
   
   

5. Trade Reviews:
   SIAL
   Nine Aboriginal firms exhibited in the Aboriginal Pavilion at SIAL in Montreal in March 2001. SIAL a biennial international trade fair for the food and beverage industry and is usually held in Paris. Last year was their first show in Montreal. The nine firms also had the opportunity to meet with 52 Canadian trade commissioners from around the world, who were able to help them with ongoing export opportunities. Producers of specialty items such as dried meats and fish, blueberry and cranberry products, wild rice and Inuit teas were on hand to promote their companies.
   

   
   

   Aboriginal World Culinary Olympic Gold Medallist Arnold Olson, a Cree from northern Saskatchewan was on hand in the Aboriginal Pavilion at SIAL and ANUGA to create some delightful dishes for the international buyers. Chef Arnold Olson saw it as an opportunity to promote native entrepreneurship in their international marketing and sales efforts.
   

   Arnold Olson

   
   ANUGA
   Four aboriginal companies attended Anuga 2001 Fair and Trade Show in Cologne, Germany in October, 2001. Anuga is the largest international food and beverage products show in the world with 6,500 exhibitors from over 144 countries. A special "Aboriginal Pavilion" featuring many traditional foods included cranberry products, specialty meats, organic rice and fish products.
   
   

6. Success Stories:
   Read more about successful Canadian Aboriginal companies and how they are exporting their products/services to overseas destinations. Learn tips from these success stories to help your company grow.
   

7. Online Export Tools:
   Register your company on the World International Network (WIN Exports); http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/docs/WINredirect.htm. All Canadian companies who are exporting or who have the capacity to export can register in WIN Exports, the Trade Commissioners' electronic database of exporters. WIN can be accessed only by Trade Commissioners, around the world, Team Canada Inc partners and International Trade Centres across Canada. WIN is used to match Canadian firms with International business opportunities and to assist foreign buyers to source products and services from Canada. All registrants to WIN Exports receive the CanadExport newsletter, published bi-monthly, with articles on trade issues and export opportunities.
   
   International Business Opportunities Centre (IBOC); http://www.iboc.gc.ca/
   The International Business Opportunities Centre provides a matching service - connecting foreign buyers with Canadian companies. The Centre works in partnership with Canada's trade officers who are located around the world in Canada's embassies and consulates. When one of Canada's trade officers identifies a business opportunity, they turn to the International Business Opportunities Centre for help. The team of specialists at the Centre immediately goes to work to search out and contact potential Canadian exporters.
   
   The International Business Opportunities Centre has an electronic leads system, named e-Leads®. Through this system, International business leads can be delivered from foreign buyers to the desktops of Canadian companies. Canadian companies are invited to subscribe free of charge to the Centre's electronic leads service by completing a profile which captures export activity preferences by products, services and priority markets. e-Leads® provides Canadian companies with up-to-date opportunities by e- mail on a subscription basis.
   

   Program for Export Market Development (PEMD); http://www.infoexport.gc.ca/pemd/
   PEMD's goal is to increase the prosperity and competitiveness of Canadian businesses in the international marketplace. Canadian companies with annual sales between $250,000 and $10 million are eligible. Eligible costs are shared on a fifty-fifty basis (company's share of the cost cannot be from public funding). The repayable contribution is based on the company's exporting success. The program is divided into two broad categories -- one targeted to companies and the other to trade or industry associations.

   ExportSource; http://www.exportsource.gc.ca/
   ExportSource is Canada's most comprehensive online source for export information. You can simultaneously search a number of government Web sites and link instantly to many useful non-government and private sector information sources. A range of key topics is covered: preparing to export, researching countries and sectors, marketing and financing, getting the product or service to market, preventing and resolving problems, and understanding the global marketplace.

   Canada's Virtual Aboriginal Trade Show is a Web site designed to promote Canadian export ready Aboriginal firms to the world.

8. Internship Programs
   Young Professionals International (YPI);
   If you are interested in obtaining information on YPI please visit http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/ypi-jpi/. The following aboriginal and international organizations are also managing YPI:

   1. Nunavut Youth Abroad Program (NYPA)
   2. United Nations Association of Canada
   3. International Institute for Sustainable Development
   4. University of Saskatchewan - Native Law Centre
   5. Pacific Peoples' Partnership
   6. Ghost River Rediscovery

For more information, please contact Rosi Niedermayer at:
rosi.niedermayer@international.gc.ca