Trade Education and Skills Development

Having the right skills and expertise are key to business development, especially when it comes to exporting. That’s why the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) has introduced the Trade Education and Skills Development initiative.

One of the five components of ACOA’s Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (ATIP), the initiative is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) acquire the export skills, knowledge and advice they need to successfully carry out an export venture.

Eligibility Criteria

Industry associations, post-secondary educational institutions, community business development organizations, and other not-for-profit organizations with a mandate to assist SMEs expand their export activity, are eligible to apply for funding under this initiative.

SMEs interested in exporting are encouraged to contact their industry associations, post-secondary educational institutions or their nearest ACOA office to access these training opportunities.

Summary

The objective of the Trade Education and Skills Development initiative is to increase the number of SMEs in Atlantic Canada that are capable of successfully exporting to international markets. To do this, the initiative offers a variety of training and skill-related activities across the region. These activities may include:

• Trade Awareness and Skills Development Training: ACOA partners with regional trade and industry associations, educational institutions, community business development groups and others to deliver trade awareness and skills development training to current and potential exporters.
• Enhanced Curriculum and Outreach Programs at Universities and Colleges: ACOA helps post-secondary educational institutions in Atlantic Canada enhance their international trade and investment curriculum. Funding is also available to these institutions to develop business outreach programs, which include trade training, counselling and mentoring services to rural and small town business communities.
• Trade Training for Small Business Counsellors: ACOA is partnering with the Acadia Centre for Social and Business Entrepreneurship to offer advanced trade and investment training to the region’s Small Business Counsellors to improve their export advisory skills.

What assistance is available?

Although ACOA can fund up to 100% of eligible costs, applicants are encouraged to fund at least 25% of the project from other sources.

Assistance may be provided for projects such as trade awareness and training seminars, workshops, conferences, sector-based trade missions and trade mentoring.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
Mr. Brad Sawlor
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
570 Queen Street
P.O. Box 578
Fredericton, New Brunswick  E3B 5A6
Telephone: (506) 452-3186
Fax: 506-452-3285
Toll-free (information): 1-800-561-4030
E-mail: Brad.Sawlor@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/e/

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National Contact(s):
ACOA Head Office
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
3rd Floor
Blue Cross Centre
644 Main Street
P.O. Box 6051
Moncton, New Brunswick  E1C 9J8
Telephone: 506-851-2271
Fax: 506-851-7403
Toll-free (information): 1-800-561-7862
Web site: http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/e/