Fast Calls on Information Technology Firms to ‘Go Global’

fast 2International Trade Minister Ed Fast today hosted an export workshop for business representatives from the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, where he highlighted the enormous benefits of Canada’s pro-trade plan to promote jobs and growth and the tools available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

At the workshop, Minister Fast announced $65,650 in Global Opportunities for Associations (GOA) funding for the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) to help their members expand abroad.

Quick Facts

  • Under the Global Markets Action Plan, the government set a goal of nearly doubling—from 11,000 to 21,000—the number of Canadian SMEs exporting to emerging markets.
  • Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently announced $50 million in direct financial assistance to Canadian SMEs for market research and participation in trade missions. This will help between 500 and 1,000 Canadian entrepreneurs per year reach their full export potential.

The $65,650 in GOA funding to ITAC to support their members for two initiatives in India and the United Arab Emirates.

Quotes

Our government is committed to working with Canadian small-and medium-sized enterprises across the country to create jobs and help them seize export opportunities around the world. We will continue to work with the world-class ICT companies across Canada, ensuring they have the tools and support they need to find success in the global market.

– Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade

“ITAC invests considerable resources in encouraging Canadian tech firms to create international business development strategies early and execute them effectively. This includes leading missions to markets that we believe hold particular promise for our technology. The financial support we receive through the GOA program makes these missions possible. The tremendous guidance and business introductions our participants receive from the Trade Commissioner Service make them successful.”

– Karna Gupta, President and CEO, Information Technology Association of Canada

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