How to apply for grants and funding to grow global sales From EDC
Courtesy of EDC Newsletter: Commentary on the Global and Canadian economic growth as well as grant opportunities
| Jan. 18, 2024 |
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| Editor’s Picks EDC commentary→ Video commentary—Global Economic Outlook: A slow-then-grow recoveryIn this Trade Matters video commentary, Stuart Bergman, EDC’s vice-president and chief economist, unpacks what’s driving our global growth forecast for this year and 2025. He examines:The delicate balance between interest rate management, labour market fluctuations, and resilient consumer spending in navigating the elusive “soft landing ”Why we expect Canada’s economy to see below-trend growth in the first half of the year—and what that means for the Canadian dollarHow Germany’s struggling economy will weigh on Euro Area growth, forecast to be just .08% in 2024 and 1.4% in 2025 Four factors hampering the outlook for China’s growth despite the Chinese government pivoting toward a more self-sufficient, consumption-driven economy, rather than one fuelled by credit and real estateThe outlook for commodity pricing, including how gold prices will be supported in 2024 by worldwide election uncertainty and ongoing geopolitical volatility Find out what’s behind Bergman’s global economic growth forecast of just 2.8% in 2024, with more robust growth of 3.3% in 2025—a pace more in line with pre-pandemic levels. [Watch the video now]Download our just-released Global Economic Outlook report for more insights on our growth forecasts and their underlying factors. From EDC and Coralus→ Apply by Jan. 30, 2024 for a gifted EDC-Coralus Growing Global cohort and gain skills, support, and connections to help take your business international Coralus (formerly SheEO) and Export Development Canada (EDC) have partnered to create Coralus-EDC: Growing Global program—cohorts of activators of women and non-binary business owners looking to grow internationally. Applications to be considered for a gifted activation are being accepted until Jan. 30, 2024. By joining a cohort, you’ll access:The Coralus community and programming for benefits, like introductions to EDC and Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) trade experts;Monthly events, like panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions;Opportunities to receive financial support, mentorship, skills development, business connections, knowledge sharing, and more. Two cohorts are accepting applications now: One for women and non-binary entrepreneurs; another in support of Indigenous women and non-binary entrepreneurs. [Apply now and also receive Going global—Empowering women through trade, a free guide]Accessing more money for your business EDC webinar series→ Webinar: Kickstart 2024 by securing financing for global growth (Jan. 25, 2024)TradeInsights subscribers tell us that finding financing to grow their businesses—whether through exporting to new markets or domestically—is their top challenge. This webinar addresses that issue head-on.It’ll highlight critical programs and services offered by the federal government and Crown corporations to support Canadian companies in developing international expansion plans, including financing, advisory services and making global connections. Topics include:How to identify support programs that align with your expansion strategy for precise planning and resource efficiency Who to contact—and when—to understand what you need to apply for grants and funding How to access grants, tax credit programs, research and development funding, and other funding programs Join us live on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, from 1-2 p.m. ET to discover how to save research time and make the most of the government’s export support network. [Reserve your spot now]From Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)→ Creating a financial action plan for your business Finding financing to boost growth is one thing, but what about when a business faces financial challenges? This article lays out a four-step plan to deal with difficult financial times, with an extended focus on options for restructuring items at the balance sheet level. It also features links to 10 online resources and tools to help you find, keep, and leverage financial resources, including how to apply online for a flexible small business loan of up to $100,000. [Discover how to develop an action plan to weather financial challenges] Finding new customersEDC guide→ Building for the future: Opportunities in U.S. infrastructureNumerous challenges affect opportunities in the U.S. infrastructure market—including regulatory changes, supply chain disruptions, skills shortages, economic instability, and the energy transition. But the most prominent challenge is the historical underfunding of infrastructure. And therein lies the opportunity for Canadian companies. Experts say many infrastructure systems are reaching the end of their lifespan and are dangerously overstretched. And here’s the proof: The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) estimates an “infrastructure investment gap” of nearly US$2.6 trillion must be addressed before 2030.This comprehensive, 81-page report is the first in a series of resources to help guide Canadian companies interested in entering the U.S. market or continue growing their presence there. It’s broken into two sections: Section 1 provides background information about the infrastructure landscape in the U.S., how infrastructure is funded between levels of government/jurisdictions and gaps in U.S. infrastructure where investment opportunities are needed. Section 2 provides a breakdown of current trends for Canadian companies to explore in five focus areas, including an overview of favourable states for infrastructure investment. [Download the report now]EDC guide→ India: A land of opportunity for Canadian companiesIn this 37-page report, Ladislau Papara, EDC’s chief representative for India, examines the potential opportunities—and risks—for Canadian companies doing business in India. Papara identifies five sectors our exporters should explore for future growth. He analyzes key aspects of the Indian marketplace, including its market characteristics, an overview of the country’s financial system, economic trends and prospects in sectors the Indian government is targeting for investment, and why Canadian companies should tap into the government’s “Make it in India” initiative.He also assesses the Canada-India relationship, where India sits in Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy, the challenges of doing business in India and why Canadian firms should keep the “three P’s of doing business in India” at top of mind when assessing market opportunities. [Download the report now]EDC insights→ Exporting Canadian seafood to the Indo-PacificSeafood consumption is a significant part of the daily diet for millions of people in the Indo-Pacific. And demand is expected to rise as the region’s middle class grows and disposable incomes increase. This article highlights the opportunities for Canadian seafood exports to grow in established Indo-Pacific markets and new emerging markets with excellent export potential. It identifies the value of the Top 5 fish and seafood exports by species and the export value of the Top 5 Indo-Pacific destinations for Canadian fish and seafood exports.The article also flags five trends accelerating demand, the benefits of leveraging “Brand Canada” in the region, and five critical themes revealed through in-depth discussions we’ve had with numerous Canadian agri-food producers—including a sizable contingent of seafood companies—offering a candid look at where they’re finding success, and what they need to achieve greater market penetration. [Find out why you should “cast a line” in the Indo-Pacific to land new export customers]Market intelligence, being competitive, and managing risk EDC insights→ Market intelligence for EuropeEurope is home to more than 450 million affluent customers who make a ready market for Canadian goods and services. While Canada shares numerous customs and values with many countries in the region, the European Union (EU) is going through one of the most challenging periods in its brief history, presenting several export challenges. This guide spotlights three key challenges while investigating the enormous potential for Canadian firms to grow exports to the EU. It lists six sectors ripe for Canadian exports and profiles seven countries and sub-regions where our companies are well-positioned to succeed. [Put our EU market intelligence to work for you now]EDC insights→ The outlook according to Canadian exporters: EDC’s Trade Confidence IndexTwice a year, with our Trade Confidence Index (TCI) survey, EDC asks more than 1,000 Canadian exporters for their views on current domestic and international market conditions, business concerns, and expectations for the future. The latest TCI results are now available in this 39-page report, with highlights that include:Canadian trade confidence has fallen after a mid-year acceleration and remains well below our survey’s historical average of 72.8.50% of Canadian exporters expect inflation to impact their businesses for more than a year.One-third of businesses surveyed sought funding in 2023, with average requests totalling $2.8 million.Despite facing many challenges currently, two-thirds of exporters are planning to expand to new markets. The report also tracks merchandise trade volumes since 2007, traces how services exports are improving while goods exports stabilize after reaching post-pandemic peaks, and lists the 10 countries for companies planning to start exporting to new markets. [Download the guide now to discover what’s on the minds of Canadian exporters]EDC insights→ Service exports boost Canada’s economy and global brandThe fast-growing service sector contributes significantly to the Canadian economy, with service exports totalling $161.2 billion in 2022, generating 12.1% of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP). But what, exactly, are service exports—and where are the opportunities to grow their export volumes?This article addresses those two questions, provides examples of service exports, traces the rebound in service exports since the pandemic, and highlights how exports in service sectors support and present opportunities for small and micro firms and women-owned businesses. [Find out if there are opportunities for your company in the service export sector] From EDC and the Conference Board of Canada→ The path to net zeroCanada’s successful transition to net zero will only be possible if small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play an active role. For insight into their readiness, we partnered with the Conference Board of Canada’s Global Commerce Centre on a survey with SMEs to understand where they are in their net zero transition and how aware they are of the steps needed to get to net zero emissions.This report presents key survey findings, including:Most SMEs are at an early stage in their emission-reduction journey.Only 18% of our sample SMEs are measuring carbon emissions, and even fewer (15%) have set net-zero targets.Most surveyed SMEs feel they don’t have the internal or external support needed to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The report also describes the five-phase net zero transition maturity framework created to help track SME progress, lists the Top 2 challenges hindering the implementation of GHG reduction strategies, and describes the next steps needed to equip SMEs with tools and resources to measure and track their emissions reduction progress. [Download the report now]Here’s the EDC content that mattered most to TradeInsights subscribers in 2023 Top 5 most viewed webinars (watch on-demand now)Grow your business with mergers and acquisitions (Jan. 26, 2023)Expanding your business south of the border (May 18, 2023)Global Economic Outlook: How to prepare for 2024 (Dec. 6, 2023)Find the future of your business in Southeast Asia (Oct. 26, 2023)Managing cash flow to optimize business operations (Apr. 20, 2023) Browse the full list of EDC webinar available to watch on-demand now. Top 5 most viewed EDC reports and guidesDoing business in MexicoIndo-Pacific market intelligenceGlobal Economic Outlook—Autumn 2023Country Risk Quarterly—Autumn 2023Canadian cleantech: Powering progress Top 5 most viewed EDC articlesGrowing Canada’s agri-food potential (May 4, 2023)$135,000 in scholarships available to support post-secondary students and community leaders (Dec. 5, 2023)Made in Canada: Understanding certificates of origin (Feb. 7, 2023)Export tips and trends for Canada’s agriculture and food industry (Jul. 18, 2023)Top 5 indicators that your startup is ready to go global (May 3, 2023) Top 5 most viewed EDC customer success storiesYukon Soaps Company reconnects people to the landMiovision: Gearing up for sustainability opportunities aheadAspin Kemp & Associates: Charting their course to successG2V Optics: Casting light on critical sectorsDeeBee’s Organics Inc. Top 5 most viewed EDC solutionsEDC Credit InsuranceEDC Select Credit InsuranceEDC Portfolio Credit InsuranceEDC Investment Matching ProgramEDC International Finance Direct |
Business Mentor & CEO at Grow Vantage & Ask For Directions Training
Business Mentor at Ask For Directions Training and Grow Vantage
Patricia is the Business Mentor and owner of Grow Vantage and a Past President of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce. She applies over 30 years of business experience (from start-up to corporate) to mentor entrepreneurs. Since 2011, she has held over 6,500 coaching and training sessions in-person and online. Through Ask For Directions Training, her entrepreneurial training program (and parent company Grow Vantage), and as a business coach, she works with start-ups who are new (or who have lost traction) to design, launch and grow their businesses. Along with 20 other expert instructors she teaches strategies in marketing, sales, communications, and finance, as well as practical techniques to increase productivity, and manage their businesses. In other words, everything entrepreneurs need to learn to grow and run their businesses successfully, and avoid the costly mistakes they can't even see coming - that lead to delays in growth and getting stuck.
Patricia is the Business Mentor and owner of Grow Vantage and a Past President of the Barrie Chamber of Commerce. She applies over 30 years of business experience (from start-up to corporate) to mentor entrepreneurs. Since 2011, she has held over 6,500 coaching and training sessions in-person and online. Through Ask For Directions Training, her entrepreneurial training program (and parent company Grow Vantage), and as a business coach, she works with start-ups who are new (or who have lost traction) to design, launch and grow their businesses. Along with 20 other expert instructors she teaches strategies in marketing, sales, communications, and finance, as well as practical techniques to increase productivity, and manage their businesses. In other words, everything entrepreneurs need to learn to grow and run their businesses successfully, and avoid the costly mistakes they can't even see coming - that lead to delays in growth and getting stuck.
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