Canadian businesses must look for ways to increase exports and drive revenue from international customers. Especially in the technology industry, companies should always be looking for new ways to grow their business both domestically and on a global scale. With a high demand for Canadian products and economic conditions that support increased exports, businesses should immediately focus on the opportunities available to them abroad.
Trade missions are often one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to begin exporting to a new market. They enable small business owners and executives the chance to judge the strength of a new market, while also establishing enduring relationships with new vendors and customers. Given the time and resources to participate in trade missions, businesses are able to effectively reach these new markets and solidify their expansion plans.
International Trade Shows for Canadian Tech Companies
Technology-based businesses are among the fastest growing exporters in Canada. The country’s explosive tech startup scene is providing innovations that can be sold to customers around the world, and those who have begun exporting are already reaping the benefits.
Whether you’re already exporting or wish to become an exporter, now is an excellent opportunity to discover new markets through trade missions. Canadian tech businesses can evaluate their export market potential by attending the following trade events.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Trade Missions
To access more information about these events, please click the linked event name.
ICT Trade Mission to Futurecom: As the largest ICT event in Latin America, Futurecom will enable Canadian companies the ability to reach a variety of new suppliers and customers. Hosted in Sao Paulo, Brazil ICT companies will be able to tap into a rapidly growing market that has a high demand for telecom and related technologies.
CeBIT: Hosted in Istanbul, Turkey, CeBIT is the largest ICT trade show in the region and supports a range of telecommunications technologies including internet services, wireless tech, IT networks, and mobile communications.
GITEX Technology Week 2016: The Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) is one of the world’s top three ICT exhibitions. This trade mission in Dubai will provide your business access to more than 139,000 industry professionals and nearly 3,600 suppliers from across the world.
Japan IT Week Autumn 2016: Japan IT Week will enable ICT businesses to exhibit their products and services among customers in the Japanese, Korean, Australian, and New Zealand markets. The event usually hosts businesses that can provide Internet of Things (IoT), mobile, and other ICT solutions.
CleanTech and Green Technologies Trade Missions
WEFTEC 2016 – The Water Quality Event: The Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) is the world’s most popular event for water quality professionals. Recent exhibitions have hosted more than 1,000 exhibitors and 22,000 attendees, including buyers from approximately 3,000 water and wastewater companies. This year’s WEFTEC event will be hosted in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Clean Tech Trade Mission: Select companies from Ontario will be chosen to participate in this outgoing trade mission that focuses on innovative clean technologies. Businesses will be able to present their technologies to utilities and engineering firms from Washington, DC and Northern Virginia. Presentations will be followed with B2B meetings where companies can establish new partnerships and sales.
POL-ECO-SYSTEM 2016: As the largest cleantech and environmental industry trade show in Central Europe, POL-ECO-SYSTEM hosts over 22,000 visitors and 170 journalists from across Europe. Canadian companies can use this event to network with other businesses from Poland and across the world.
Canadian Government Funding to Attend Trade Shows and Grow Export Markets
Although the above events will provide Canadian companies an opportunity to grow their exports, many businesses are hesitant to explore these options because of limited cash flow. The cost of traveling to these markets and participating in trade missions can be an expensive process, which limits the number of companies that can participate.
Luckily, the Government of Canada provides assistance to small and mid-sized businesses that are looking to enter new export markets. CanExport is a funding program that offers Canadian government grants for businesses entering markets where less than 10% or $20,000 of total international sales have been earned in the last two years.
Small business grants provide up to 50% of eligible expenses to a maximum $50,000 per application submitted. This is an excellent program for technology-oriented businesses who are incorporated and have project expenses of at least $20,000. This amount will cover export expansion costs such as participation in trade events, travel costs to the foreign country, and the translation of marketing materials for your new audience.