Minister Carr promotes export opportunities to help small and medium-sized businesses in British Columbia create jobs

September 5, 2019 – British Columbia - Global Affairs Canada

Canada’s small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of the economy and create jobs for the middle class. Helping these businesses expand into new markets, gain new customers and create new jobs is central to the Government of Canada’s trade diversification strategy.

Over the last two days, the Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification, visited several companies in Kamloops and Kelowna, British Columbia, to promote the benefits of international trade and the government programs that help Canadian businesses export into new markets.

To support small and medium-sized enterprises across the country, the government recently expanded the CanExport funding program, which has helped nearly 300 businesses in British Columbia access new export markets.

This funding is a key part of Canada’s trade diversification strategy which will invest a total of $1.1 billion over six years to help Canadian companies succeed around the world.

These efforts are part of the government’s plan to make Canada the most well-connected trading economy worldwide, which is helping to create more jobs at home.

Minister Carr also visited Thompson Rivers University and the Okanagan campus of the University of British Columbia to discuss the benefits of Canada’s new International Education Strategy.

This strategy will give more young Canadians opportunities to study abroad and gain the skills they need to compete in a global marketplace. It will also advance Canada’s standing as a high-calibre place to study, do research and work.

Quotes

“Canada’s continued prosperity depends on innovative, hard-working and entrepreneurial Canadian exporters right across the country. With new trade agreements with over 50 countries, there’s never been a better time to diversify into new export markets, which is why our government is offering local businesses more support to reach their global ambitions.”
- Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification

Quick facts

The 2018 Fall Economic Statement announced a $100-million investment over six years to reinforce CanExport and related funding programs. This helps more Canadian businesses explore new overseas markets.
To date, the CanExport program has supported more than 1,200 Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises with 1,600 projects to expand their markets and increase their export activities in more than 110 markets around the world.
The 2018 Fall Economic Statement announced investments of $290 million over five years to help Canadian businesses export and grow and to strengthen the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service and enhance the support it provides to Canadian exporters.

Associated links

Contacts

Michael Jones
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Trade Diversification
343-550-2368
[email protected]

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
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