Mission Statement

Assistive Devices, Aids and Technologies

Trade Mission to Canada

September 19-20, 2005

Mission Description

The International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service (CS) in Canada is organizing a two-day trade mission, September 19 and 20, 2005, for U.S. Assistive Devices, Aids and Technologies (ADT) companies. This export business development mission is designed to provide U.S. companies with a first-hand opportunity to prospect the Canadian market by establishing new and strategic commercial relations as well as accessing valuable marketing information from up-to-date briefings. This two-day program provides industry briefings on the Canadian assistive devices, aids and technologies market and the opportunity to identify and meet potential business partners in Montreal and Toronto. In addition, during the two-day event, the Commercial Service in Halifax will arrange a catalog showcase for the participants to gather live trade leads from companies in the four-province region of Atlantic Canada.

For a fee of $1,950 each participant will be provided:

• Seminar sessions on selling to Canada’s ADT markets
• Facilities to display product samples and promotional materials and to conduct individual business meetings
• Networking with potential business partners in Montreal and Toronto
• Live trade leads from simultaneous catalog showcase conducted in Halifax
• Market exposure through pre-event promotion
• Individual business counseling services provided by CS Trade Specialists
• Post-event follow up support
• Logistical support during visit in Canada

U.S. companies selling the following products should fully benefit from this export business development event:

Aids to Daily Living
Driving Aids
Hearing Aids
Home Health Equipment

• Diabetic Products
• Diagnostics Products
• Electrotherapy Devices
• Lift/Transfer Systems
• Respiratory Aids

Incontinence/Ostomy Supplies
Rehabilitation Products
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Seating and Positioning Devices
Visual Aids
Wheelchairs and Other Mobility Aids
Writing Aids and Tools

Commercial Setting

The Canadian market for assistive devices and technologies is highly receptive to new products and was valued at US $450 million in 2003. Demand is strong for all categories of assistive devices, and market segmentation resembles that of the United States. In 2001, 3.6 million Canadians living in households reported having activity limitations, which represents a disability rate of 12.4 percent.

The aging of the Canadian population is the prime factor behind the industry’s

10 percent annual growth. The increasing social acceptance of assistive device use is another contributing factor. Public health care authorities play an important role in facilitating access to assistive technologies for Canadians. Additional support is provided by numerous industry groups, associations and the media.

Mission Goal

The mission’s goal is to provide U.S. firms with a cost-effective and efficient method of entering the Canadian market by providing the opportunity to develop relationships with, and promote their products to, potential representatives, buyers and business partners in Canada.

Mission Scenario

The Assistive Devices, Aids and Technologies trade mission to Canada is a two-day,

two-stop event which will commence each day with a seminar program on “selling to Canada's assistive devices market” and will be followed by a tabletop exhibition. The exhibition is expected to be visited by Canadian businesses in Montreal and Toronto. Concurrently, the Commercial Service in Halifax will run a showcase of the participants’ catalogs to gather live trade leads in the four-province region of Atlantic Canada.

Timetable

Trade mission activities involving the participants will be conducted in Montreal and Toronto, starting Monday September 19 in Montreal and ending Tuesday September 20 in Toronto.

• Sunday, September 18, 2005: Arrival in Montreal
• Montreal - Monday, September 19, 2005 Breakfast and seminar sessions followed by business luncheon, tabletop exhibition and individual meetings. Participants travel to Toronto at end of day.
• Toronto - Tuesday, September 20, 2005
  Breakfast and seminar sessions followed by business luncheon, tabletop exhibition, individual meetings. Event ends at 5 p.m. Participants travel back home.
• Friday, September 23, 2005 – Participants receive e-mail report on all trade leads collected in the catalog showcase in Halifax on September 19 and 20, 2005

Recruitment for the Assistive Devices, Aids and Technologies trade mission will begin with the release of this mission statement and publication of announcement in the Federal Register.

The Trade Mission will accommodate a total of 10 U.S. participants.

Recruitment and Criteria for Participation

Recruitment is conducted by Commercial Service Montreal with the assistance of the healthcare team, U.S. Export Assistance Centers, State Economic Development Offices, Small Business Associations, U.S. multipliers and associations. Promotion of the event will be handled by telephone, e-mail, direct mail, outreach and video conferencing.

The criteria for participation are as follows:

• relevance of the company’s business line to mission goals;
• potential for business in the assistive technologies market;
• 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's products and/or services are manufactured or produced in the United States or if manufactured/produced outside of the United States, the product/service must be marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content representing at least 51 percent 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

Pierre Richer
Project Manager
U.S. Commercial Service, Montreal
1155 St-Alexander
Montreal, PQ H3B 3Z1
Tel: 514 / 908-3661 direct line or consular line 514 / 398-9695, ext. 6-2261
Fax: 514 / 398-0711
Email: pierre.richer@mail.doc.gov