Question Period Note: Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) Overview

The TCS is a global network of over 1,500 trade professionals who help Canadian businesses identify, pursue and secure business opportunities abroad and promote Canada as a top FDI destination.

• The TCS helps Canadian companies grow internationally by providing business intelligence, facilitating introductions, referring business opportunities, helping resolve problems, organizing events to promote Canadian businesses, and providing funding through TCS programs.
• The TCS is supporting Canada's economic recovery in close collaboration with other federal trade and investment agencies.
• The TCS has made important contributions to Canada's COVID-19 response, including sourcing medical supplies, promoting Canadian companies with COVID-19 solutions, and supporting lead agencies in procuring vaccines and other essential supplies.
• The TCS promotes inclusive trade and Canadian exporter diversity through focused business delegations and other international business development opportunities.
• The TCS promotes Responsible Business Conduct abroad as a competitive advantage for Canadian businesses which helps them mitigate risks, improve competitiveness, and strengthen their brand.

· On average, Canadian businesses that work with the TCS export 19.8% more in value and to 24.8% more markets compared to other companies.
· 93% of TCS clients are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
· In fiscal year 2020-2021, the TCS:
o facilitated 1,340 commercial agreements (export sales) with an estimated value of over $4 billion.
o facilitated 124 foreign direct investments worth over $2 billion.
o provided 48,800 services to 10,882 clients, achieving a 92% client satisfaction rate.
o helped over 1,100 Canadian SMEs pursue new international markets with funding under the CanExport program.
o facilitated 147 international Science, Technology & Innovation (STI) partnerships for 128 Canadian companies and organizations, and helped Canadian SMEs raise $185 million in venture capital.
o organized and participated in 226 education events worldwide, helping over 1,300 Canadian education organizations meet with over 60,000 potential foreign students and commercial partners.
o delivered virtual trade missions in which 1,250 companies participated.
o contributed to or led more than 29 initiatives abroad in 14 markets aimed at 121 women-owned/women-led, Indigenous-owned, visible-minority, and LGBTQ2 businesses.
o facilitated 36 virtual training sessions on CUSMA, CETA, and CPTPP for 659 participants.
o delivered virtual Canadian Trade Accelerator programs for 177 technology companies in the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia. Of these, 75 companies reported over $69 million in capital raised, $29.7 million in new revenue, 147 strategic partnerships and 221 new jobs created.

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