RepCAN 2009 - U.S. Matchmaker and Exhibition

Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, Canada

September 28-October 6, 2009

I.       Mission Description

The United States Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, is organizing a combined trade mission and exhibition, RepCAN 2009, to be held in Toronto, Ontario on September 28-29; Montreal, Quebec on September 30-October 1; and Vancouver, British Columbia on October 5-6, under the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service’s Canada First Building Bridges to Prosperity Initiative. This multi-sector mission/exhibit is designed to provide export-ready, small to medium-sized U.S. companies (SMEs) with a highly efficient and cost-effective opportunity to establish profitable commercial relations with prospective agents, distributors and end-users in any one or all three, of Canada’s primary regional markets. RepCAN 2009 also offers U.S. companies that are new to exporting an ideal opportunity to gain valuable international business experience in a low-risk market with strong potential for high returns.

RepCAN 2009 participants will benefit from a full range of business facilitation and trade promotion services provided by the U.S. Commercial Service in Canada, including:

• Current market sector information
• Professional CS Canada business counseling
• Pre-event marketing support and promotional consideration
• Pre-event market briefings by industry experts
• Individual business meetings with potential Canadian partners
• Exhibit space for table-top displays and promotional materials
• Networking events to include business, industry and government contacts
• Full logistical support; including hotel bookings at preferred rates
• On-site assistance and support
• National market exposure
• Listing on CS Canada’s website and RepCAN brochure
• Follow-up assistance, as required

II.        Commercial Setting

The United States and Canada share the largest and most dynamic commercial relationship in the world. In 2007, two-way merchandize trade crossing our common border with Canada stood at US$562 billion, or approximately US$1.5 billion per day. In the first nine months of 2008, this flow grew US$1.7 billion per day. Today, U.S. trade with Canada exceeds total U.S. trade with the 27 countries of the European Union combined. Canada also represents the number one export market for 36 of our 50 states and is among the top five export markets for another ten states.

Canada’s geographic proximity, open market economy, stable business climate and receptivity to U.S. goods and services make it the number one gateway to the international marketplace for thousands of U.S. export-ready SMEs. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which provides U.S. origin goods with duty-free entry into Canada, also contributes to the relatively low-cost, low-risk, access that U.S. SMEs can gain to prosper and grow in the global marketplace.

III.    Mission Goals

The mission is designed to advance ITA goals to broaden and deepen the U.S. exporter base by providing export-ready small and medium-sized U.S. firms with a cost-effective, low-risk opportunity to identify, establish and develop valuable long-term business relations in Canada.

The trade mission’s goal is to introduce U.S. exporters to potential public and private end-users and partners, including potential agents, distributors, and licensees, with the aim of creating business partnerships that will contribute to increasing U.S. exports to Canada.

IV.    Mission Scenario

RepCAN 2009 participants will arrive at each location the day before the event and check-in at hotels designated by the U.S. Commercial Service.

In each city, participants will be invited to an informal ice-breaker reception, where they will meet CS staff and receive their updated participant’s information package as well as briefing on the following day’s program. To the extent possible, participants will be allowed to set-up their table-top displays and pop-up exhibits that evening. Participants will be provided with a six-foot draped table for their table-top displays and four chairs for use during the event.

The day of the event will begin with a briefing on “Doing Business in Canada” and will discuss the commercial climate, local business practices, shipping to Canada, and other aspects of doing business in Canada.

Individual one-on-one business meetings with pre-qualified prospective Canadian business partners will commence immediately following the briefing in the exhibit hall and will continue throughout the day. In addition to one-on-one meetings on site, conference calls and off-site meetings will be conducted with prospective partners, as appropriate. A networking reception for participants, prospective partners and other members of the local business community will be held at the end of the day.

V.     Proposed Timetable

The proposed schedule allows for about a day and a half in each City.

VI.    Participation Requirements

A minimum of 15 and a maximum of 25 companies will be selected to participate in RepCAN 2009 from the applicant pool. RepCAN 2009 is a horizontal event open to all industry sectors.

Fees and Expenses:

After a company has been selected to participate in the RepCAN 2009 event, a payment to the Department of Commerce in the form of a participation fee is required. The participation fee, per stop is $1,500 per company for small or medium enterprises (SME)¹ and $2,500 per company for large firms, with up to two company representatives. Expenses for lodging, transportation, most meals, and incidentals will be the responsibility of each mission participant.

 Conditions for Participation:

• An applicant must submit a completed and signed event application and supplemental application materials, including adequate information on the company’s products and/or services, primary market objectives, and goals for participation. If the Department of Commerce receives an incomplete application, the Department may reject the application, request additional information, or take the lack of information into account when evaluating the applications.
• Each applicant must also certify that the products and services it seeks to export through the mission are either produced in the United States, or, if not, marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have at least 51 percent U.S. content of the value of the finished product or service.

Selection Criteria for Participation: 

• Suitability of the company’s products or services to the Canadian markets;
• Applicant’s potential for business in the target Canadian markets, including likelihood of exports resulting from the event; and
• Relevance of the company’s business line to the mission’s goals.

Referrals from political organizations and any documents containing references to partisan political activities (including political contributions) will be removed from an applicant’s submission and not considered during the selection process.

VII.  TIMEFRAME FOR RECRUITMENT AND APPLICATIONS

Recruitment for RepCAN 2009 will be conducted in an open and public manner. Outreach will include posting on the Commerce Department trade mission calendar http://www.ita.doc.gov/doctm/tmcal.html and other Internet web sites, press releases to general and trade media, direct mail, broadcast fax, notices by industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and publicity at industry meetings, symposia, conferences, and trade shows. The U.S. Commercial Service offices in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, Canada will lead recruitment activities and will solicit support from all U.S. Export Assistance Centers and Global Team t. RepCAN 2009 will also be promoted through the CS Canada’s quarterly newsletter and on CS Canada’s homepage:  http://www.buyusa.gov/Canada.

The mission will open on a first come first served basis. Recruitment for the mission will begin immediately and close July 31, 2009. Applications received after July 31, 2009, will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.  Interested U.S. firms may contact the mission project officer listed below or visit the mission website: 

Contacts:

Overall Lead for RepCAN 2009:

Madellon C. Lopes
Sr. Commercial Specialist
#602 480 University Ave
Toronto, ON M5G 1V2
Tel: 416-595-5412 ext 227
Email: Madellon.Lopes@mail.doc.gov

Montreal Lead:

Connie Irrera
Commercial Specialist
U.S. Consulate General
PO Box 65 Stn Desjardins
Montreal, QC H5B 1G1
Tel: 514-908-3662
Email: Connie.Irrera@mail.doc.gov

Vancouver Lead:

Cheryl Schell
Sr. Commercial Specialist
U.S. Consulate General
1950-1095 W Pender
Vancouver, BC V6E 2M6
Tel: 604-685-3385
E-mail: Cheryl.Schell@mail.doc.gov