Mission Statement

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEALMAKER

Toronto, Canada

February 3-4, 1999

Mission Description

The U.S. Commercial Service in Toronto is organizing a two-day Information Technology Dealmaker trade mission to provide U.S. small- and medium-sized, export-ready, companies with a cost effective and highly efficient means to promote their products and services in the Canadian information technology market. In addition to meeting one-on-one, with pre-qualified potential business partners in Canada, participating firms will receive broad market exposure and valuable insights from market research and focused industry briefings. Participants will also benefit from various networking events including a visit to the Internet World '99 show, scheduled for February 2-5, 1999 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario.

For a fee of only US$750, the U.S. Commercial Service will provide individual participants with:

• two days of meetings with pre-qualified Canadian business partners

• industry briefings on "How to Do Business in Canada" by business and government experts
• business counseling services
• logistical support in Canada
• networking opportunities with Canadian business and government contacts
• free admission to Internet World '99 trade show
• follow-up support as required

Participation in the Information Technology Dealmaker is suitable for U.S. computer hardware, software or related services companies.

Commercial Setting

Canada's demand for information technology products and services, coupled with its close proximity and extremely high receptivity to U.S. products, makes it the first export market that U.S. small- and medium-sized firms should consider.

The Canadian Information Technology (IT) market in 1997 was estimated at US$19 billion, with approximately 43 percent attributed to hardware sales, 17 percent to software, and 40 percent to IT services. With an average annual compound growth rate exceeding 12 percent, information technology is one of Canada's fastest growing sectors. Toronto, with a population of 3.5 million, is among the largest cities in North America, and boasts the highest concentration of government and business establishments in Canada.

Canada is the largest buyer of U.S. -origin products.

Mission Goals

The goal of the Information Technology DealMaker is to assist U.S. small and medium-sized Information Technology firms with their trade development in Canada by providing them professional business counseling and a cost-effective, low-risk, and hassle-free means to establish and develop valuable long-term business contacts in Canada, our number one export market.

Mission Scenario

The U.S. Information Technology DealMaker is a two-day trade mission staged in Toronto, Canada on February 2-5, 1999. On day one, the U.S. participants will take part in a working breakfast where they will receive up-to-date industry and government briefings. During the two-day event, each U.S. company will participate in pre-arranged, one-on-one meetings with qualified Canadian business partners.

Timetable

This trade event will be held at the Holiday Inn on King in Toronto, just steps from the Internet World '99 trade show site on February 2-5, 1999 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

February 2, 1999:

• arrive in Toronto

February 3

• working breakfast seminar
• one-on-one business meetings
• networking reception

February 4

• one-on-one business meetings
• Visit Internet World '99 trade show
• depart Toronto

Recruitment and Criteria for Participation

Recruitment will be conducted through U.S. Export Assistance Centers, State Economic Development Offices, Small Business Associations, U.S. multipliers and associations, and direct mailings to potential participants. Promotion for this event will be handled by e-mail, mailouts and, in some cases, video conferencing. Information on the Information Technology DealMaker trade mission is also available on the internet, including CS Canada's home page, http://www.ita.doc.gov/cscanada, and in the Federal Register.

The criteria for participation are as follows:

• payment of US$750 fee
• relevance of the company's business line to mission goals;
• potential for business in the Canadian markets;
• timeliness of the company's completed application/ registration material and payment of the mission participation fee;
• provision of adequate information on the company's products and/or services and communication of the company's primary objectives;
• certification that the company meets the Department's guidelines for participation
• certification that the goods and services to be marketed will be either (a) manufactured or produced in the United States; or (b) if manufactured or produced outside the United States, be marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content representing at least 51% of the value of the finished good or service.

Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

Contact Information

Viktoria Palfi
Project Manager
U.S. Commercial Service, Toronto
480 University Avenue, Suite 602
Toronto, ON M5G 1V2

Tel: 416 / 595-5412, ext. 229
Fax: 416 / 595-5419
E-mail: viktoria.palfi@mail.doc.gov