What is a Team Canada Mission?

Team Canada Missions are a unique partnership in Canada's international business development efforts to increase trade and investment, as well as create jobs and growth in Canada. They are led by the Prime Minister with the participation of provincial premiers and territorial government leaders, and the Minister of International Trade.

The first Team Canada Mission was led by Prime Minister Chrétien in 1994. Since then, several hundred business people have taken part in these missions that highlight Canadian commercial, political, educational and cultural links with the countries visited.

The presence and support of the Prime Minister, provincial premiers and government leaders send a strong message to prospective partners that Canada is committed to doing business with them. Team Canada Missions facilitate access to key foreign political and business leaders and provide visibility for Canadian delegates in international markets. They also strengthen relationships with foreign business partners and help develop relationships with new clients and counterparts.

Each Team Canada Mission draws business representatives from a number of identified business focus sectors which are deemed to hold the greatest mutual promise for new business development with the Team Canada destination countries. Trade missions help Canadian businesses to position themselves in markets where competition is fierce.

Trade missions are about opening doors and developing long-term trade and investment opportunities in foreign markets for Canadian businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, women, youth, aboriginal entrepreneurs and new exporters.

Team Canada Mission participants have reported that missions add momentum to their business efforts, that their company benefits from the overall profile of missions and that their involvement in missions generally results in more leads than they anticipate.

There have been seven Team Canada Missions since 1994: Russia and Germany in 2002; Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in 2001; Japan in 1999; Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Chile in 1998; South Korea, the Philippines and Thailand in 1997; India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia in 1996; and China in 1994.