The U.S. Commercial Service in Toronto is organizing a two-day Information Technology Dealmaker 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 2001 trade show, scheduled for February 9-11 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

For a fee of only US$850, 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's IT Market"
• business counseling services
• logistical support in Canada
• networking opportunities with Canadian business and government contacts
• free admission to Internet World 2001 trade show
• follow-up support, as required

Participation in the Information Technology Dealmaker is suitable for export-ready U.S. computer hardware, software and related services companies.

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 1998 was estimated at US$20 billion, with approximately 43 percent attributed to hardware sales, 17 percent to software, and 40 percent to IT services. With an average annual 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 clearly the strongest IT market in Canada.

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 professional business counseling and a cost-effective, low-risk, and hassle-free means to establish valuable long-term business contacts in Canada, our number one export market. The target number of participants for this event is ten U.S. companies. The cut off for participation is January 5, 2001.

The U.S. Information Technology DealMaker is a two-day business matchmaking program scheduled in Toronto, Canada on February 8 - 9, 2001. On day one, U.S. participants will take part in a working breakfast where they will receive up-to-date industry and government briefings before starting their schedule of pre-arranged business meetings. Day two will continue with a full day of one-on-one business meetings, site visits to potential Canadian business partners and Internet World 2001.

February, 2001 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at a downtown Toronto hotel, in close proximity to the Internet World 2001 trade show site:

February 7 - arrive in Toronto

February 8 - working breakfast seminar

- networking reception

February 9 - one-on-one business meetings

The criteria for participation are as follows:

• payment of US$850 fee
• receipt of completed Participation Agreement
• 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.

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