Presentation by Constantine KatsigiannisPresidentHELLENIC-CANADIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada

(DFAIT) • Represents Canada around the world through

– embassies, consulates and trade offices, – participation in multilateral institutions, and – international treaties and arrangements.

Canada has diplomatic and consular offices in over 270 locations in 180 countries.Canada has diplomatic and consular offices in over 270 locations in 180 countries.

DFAIT’s four key functions

• Coordinating international policy-making• Promoting Canadian interests, values and

expertise abroad• Assisting Canadians by providing global

commerce, consular and passport services • Supplying a physical platform outside

Canada

Structure – International Trade

International Trade consists of four integrated branches:

• Global Operations• North American Relations• Trade Policy and Negotiations • Investment, Innovation and Sectors

North American Relations and Global Operations Branches

Unite our domestic and overseas client-service networks to assist Canadian business to compete successfully for global opportunities.

Unite our domestic and overseas client-service networks to assist Canadian business to compete successfully for global opportunities.

Trade Policy and Negotiations Branch

Focuses on strengthening secure access for Canadian business to global markets through the negotiation and implementation of commercial agreements.

Focuses on strengthening secure access for Canadian business to global markets through the negotiation and implementation of commercial agreements.

Investment, Innovation and Sectors Branch

• Promotes Canada as a globally competitive location and partner for investment and innovation.

• Provides an enhanced capacity to manage sectoral knowledge and the opportunities and policy challenges presented by global value chains and new business models.

• Enables us to effectively work with our partners and integrate the elements of the International Trade portfolio.

The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS)

Located in– more than 150 cities worldwide, and– 18 offices across Canada.

Canada’s most comprehensive network of international trade professionals.

Canada’s most comprehensive network of international trade professionals.

Building Canada’s economy

The TCS promotes Canada’s economic interests in the global marketplace.

The TCS promotes Canada’s economic interests in the global marketplace.

• Foreign-market access• Trade leads• Exports• Business contacts • Events

• Technology transfer• Licensing agreements•Joint-venture development• Investment in Canada• Research and development (R&D) partnerships

The TCS facilitates

Our vision: Striving for excellence

“The TCS is almost an extension of our business. They aren’t employees; they’re a part of our company.”

Bob Thomas, Progeny Software, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

“The TCS is almost an extension of our business. They aren’t employees; they’re a part of our company.”

Bob Thomas, Progeny Software, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

As members of the TCS global team, we want to be known for the excellence of our people and the high quality of our services, as well for our contribution to making Canada a prosperous and innovative nation.

Our clients• are small, medium and large companies;• are established in Canada; • do business abroad; and • have researched their market(s).

We help them– Export– Invest abroad– Seek technology and capital– Develop R&D partnerships

We help them– Export– Invest abroad– Seek technology and capital– Develop R&D partnerships

Delivering value to businesses

We help Canadian companies succeed globally and lower their costs of doing business through four key services:

1. Preparation for international markets

2. Market-potential assessment3. Qualified contacts4. Problem solving

1. Preparation for international markets

2. Market-potential assessment3. Qualified contacts4. Problem solving

Preparing for international markets

Our trade commissioners in Canada help clients:• determine whether they are internationally

competitive;• decide on a target market;• collect market and industry information; and• enhance their international business strategies

to export, invest and innovate.

Assessing market potential

Trade commissioners in Canada and abroad help clients assess their market potential with

• market intelligence, and • advice on improving their market penetration strategy.

“The TCS took the time to understand our technology and then helped us with a market-entry approach. This saved us time and money!”

Nelson Dass, ALTINEX, Mississauga, Ontario

“The TCS took the time to understand our technology and then helped us with a market-entry approach. This saved us time and money!”

Nelson Dass, ALTINEX, Mississauga, Ontario

Finding qualified contacts Global reachThe TCS has contacts abroad that can bolster its clients’ success and provide needed local knowledge.

Canadian presenceThe TCS can link its clients to the vast Canadian trade network, and foreign trade missions, and advise them on trade fairs in their sector.

“The TCS are well-respected by contacts around the world. When the TCS introduces us to a potential client, that’s one of the best references we can have.”

Marc St-Onge, TelcoBridges, Boucherville, Quebec

“The TCS are well-respected by contacts around the world. When the TCS introduces us to a potential client, that’s one of the best references we can have.”

Marc St-Onge, TelcoBridges, Boucherville, Quebec

Leveraging partnerships The TCS• has an unparalleled network of contacts around the world. And that network starts at

home. • connects partners to clients through its regional offices across Canada. Partners

include:

• Export Development Canada (EDC)• Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC)• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)• Provincial economic development organizations• Business and industry associations

The Virtual Trade Commissioner (VTC)

Markets are constantly changing. The VTC allows clients to receive the latest insights, including

• access to current market reports, country information, business opportunities, sector-specific news, trade events and more.

• assistance from VTC partners: – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian

Heritage, EDC and the CCC.

VTC: Personalized online experience…...anytime, anywhere 

• Single-service window to information and international business services specific to our clients’ sector and markets of interest.

• Free service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.• Secure, direct access to our partners and over 1,000 trade

commissioners in Canada and abroad.• Quality and up-to-date content.

The Agri-Food Trade Service (ATS) of Agriculture and

Agri-Food Canada provides a full range of market access,

market development and investment services to

Canadian agri-food companies http://ats-sea.agr.gc.ca

CanadExport, at canadexport.gc.ca, is a free, online

magazine published by DFAIT. It provides

news about trade opportunities, export programs, trade

fairs, business missions and more.

Canada’s International Market Access Report provides an

overview of the government’s priorities for improving accessto foreign markets

The Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) provides

international contracting services to Canadian exporters

selling to foreign governments and government procurement

markets. Refer to www.ccc.ca.

Export Development Canada (EDC) offers innovative

commercial solutions to help Canadian exporters

and investorsexpand their international business.

EDC’sknowledge and partnerships are used

by 6,400 Canadiancompanies and their global customers

in up to 200 marketsworldwide each year.

Refer to www.edc.ca