Trade Fairs and Missions

Trade fairs and trade missions help Canadian companies expand their interests in global markets. Market information, financial assistance and assistance with the logistical details associated with participating in these events are provided, freeing a company to concentrate on its marketing efforts.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for participation in such a trade activity, companies must:

• be incorporated and operating in Canada;
• produce a product or service with 50% or more Canadian content and/or be 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 FAITC's Virtual Trade Commissioner (VTC) database or Industry Canada's Canadian Company Capabilities.

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.gc.ca.

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 the 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.

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service 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, construction, 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.

Quebec Contact(s):
Abitibi - Témiscamingue
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
906, 5e Avenue
Val D'or, Quebec  J9P 1B9
Telephone: 819-825-5260
Fax: 819-825-3245
Toll-free (information): 1-800-567-6451
Web site: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/Apropos/BureauxAffaires.asp?LANG=EN

Bas-Saint-Laurent
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Suite 310
Trust général du Canada Building
2 Saint-Germain Street East
Rimouski, Quebec  G5L 8T7
Telephone: 418-722-3282
Fax: 418-722-3285
Toll-free (information): 1-800-463-9073
Web site: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/Apropos/BureauxAffaires.asp?LANG=EN

Centre-du-Québec
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Suite 502
Place du Centre
150 Marchand Street
Drummondville, Quebec  J2C 4N1
Telephone: 819-478-4664
Fax: 819-478-4666
Toll-free (information): 1-800-567-1418
Web site: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/Apropos/BureauxAffaires.asp?LANG=EN

Côte-Nord
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Suite 202 B
701 Laure Boulevard
P.O. Box 698
Sept-Îles, Quebec  G4R 4K9
Telephone: 418-968-3426
Fax: 418-968-0806
Toll-free (information): 1-800-463-1707
Web site: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/Apropos/BureauxAffaires.asp?LANG=EN

Estrie
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Suite 240
Andrew Paton Place
65 Belvédère Street North
Sherbrooke, Quebec  J1H 4A7
Telephone: 819-564-5904
Fax: 819-564-5912
Toll-free (information): 1-800-567-6084
Web site: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/Apropos/BureauxAffaires.asp?LANG=EN

Gaspésie/Îles-de-la-Madeleine
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
3rd Floor
Place Jacques Cartier
120 de la Reine Street
Gaspé, Quebec  G4X 2S1
Telephone: 418-368-5870
Fax: 418-368-6256
Toll-free (information): 1-866-368-0044
Web site: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/Apropos/BureauxAffaires.asp?LANG=EN

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Room 800
5 Place Ville-Marie
Montréal, Quebec  H3B 2G2
Telephone: 514-283-6328
Fax: 514-283-8794
Toll-free (information): 1-800-267-8376 (in Canada)
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-944-9136
E-mail: mntrl@international.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.international.gc.ca/menu-en.asp

Laval - Laurentides - Lanaudière
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Suite 204
Tour Triomphe II
2540 Daniel-Johnson Boulevard
Laval, Quebec  H7T 2S3
Telephone: 450-973-6844
Fax: 450-973-6851
Toll-free (information): 1-800-430-6844
Web site: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/Apropos/BureauxAffaires.asp?LANG=EN

Mauricie
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Suite 413
Bourg du Fleuve Building
25 des Forges Street
Trois-Rivières, Quebec  G9A 2G4
Telephone: 819-371-5182
Fax: 819-371-5186
Toll-free (information): 1-800-567-8637
Web site: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/Apropos/BureauxAffaires.asp?LANG=EN

Montérégie
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Suite 400
Place Agropur
101 Roland-Therrien Boulevard
Longueuil, Quebec  J4H 4B9
Telephone: 450-928-4088
Fax: 450-928-4097
Toll-free (information): 1-800-284-0335
Web site: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/Apropos/BureauxAffaires.asp?LANG=EN

Nord-du-Québec
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Suite 3800
800 Victoria Square
Tour de la Bourse
P.O. Box 247
Montréal, Quebec  H4Z 1E8
Telephone: 514-283-8131
Fax: 514-283-3637
Toll-free (information): 1-800-561-0633
Web site: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/Apropos/BureauxAffaires.asp?LANG=EN

Outaouais
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Suite 202
259 Saint-Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec  J8Y 6T1
Telephone: 819-994-7442
Fax: 819-994-7846
Toll-free (information): 1-800-561-4353
Web site: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/Apropos/BureauxAffaires.asp?LANG=EN

Québec - Chaudière - Appalaches
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
2nd Floor
John-Munn Building
112 Dalhousie Street
Québec, Quebec  G1K 4C1
Telephone: (418) 648-4826
Fax: (418) 648-7291
Toll-free (information): 1-800-463-5204
Web site: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/Apropos/BureauxAffaires.asp?LANG=EN

Saguenay - Lac-Saint-Jean
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Suite 203
170 St-Joseph Street South
Alma, Quebec  G8B 3E8
Telephone: 418-668-3084
Fax: 418-668-7584
Toll-free (information): 1-800-463-9808
Web site: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/Apropos/BureauxAffaires.asp?LANG=EN

Île-de-Montréal
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
3340 De l'Assomption Boulevard
Montréal, Quebec  H1N 3S4
Telephone: 514-283-2500
Fax: 514-496-8310
Toll-free (information): 1-800-322-4636
Web site: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/asp/Apropos/BureauxAffaires.asp?LANG=EN

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National Contact(s):
Regional Office Support Unit
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
Lester B. Pearson Building
125 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0G2
Telephone: 613-944-0300; 1-888-306-9991 (feedback line)
Toll-free (information): 1-800-267-8376 (in Canada)
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-944-9136
Web site: http://www.international.gc.ca/menu-en.asp