Mission Description

The International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service in Toronto is organizing a two-day Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Trade Mission to assist 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 prescreened potential business partners in Canada, participating firms will receive broad market exposure and valuable insights from market research and focused industry briefings.

The U.S. Commercial Service will provide individual participants with:

• Two days of meetings with prescreened Canadian business partners.
  
• Industry briefings on "How to Do Business in Canada's IT Market".
  
• Business counseling services.
  
• Logistical support in Canada, such as hotel bookings and transportation.
  
• Networking opportunities with Canadian business and government contacts.
  
• Follow-up support, as required, such as post event contact with potential Canadian business partners originally scheduled for meetings during the trade mission.

Participation in the Information & Communication Technology Trade Mission is suitable for export-ready U.S. telecom, computer hardware, software and 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.

Driven by software and services, total ICT annual revenues in Canada are projected to be worth US$70 billion in 2003. The Canadian ICT sector remains a growing industry with anticipated pent-up demand over the next couple of years. ICT industry growth in Canada is expected to track Canadian GDP growth. The Greater Toronto Area (GTA), with a population of over 5 million, is among the largest cities in North America, and clearly the strongest ICT market in Canada.

Mission Goals

The goal of the Information & Communication Technology Trade Mission is to assist U.S. small and medium-sized ICT 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.

Mission Scenario

The U.S. Information & Communication Technology Trade Mission is a two-day business matchmaking program scheduled in Toronto, Canada. 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.

Timetable

April 20 & 21, 2004 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at a hotel conveniently located to Toronto's downtown core.

April 19	arrive in Toronto
April 20	working breakfast seminar one-on-one business meetings networking reception
April 21	one-on-one business meetings depart Toronto

Recruitment and Criteria for Participation

The Commercial Service Canada will recruit for this event with support from U.S. Export Assistance Centers, ICT Team, State Economic Development Offices, U.S. multipliers and associations. Promotion for this event will be handled by e-mail, mailouts and, in some cases, video conferencing. Information on the Information & Communication Technology Trade Mission will be available on the internet on CS Canada's home page, http://www.buyusa.gov/canada/en/, on the ITA homepage as well as in the Federal Register. The cut off date for recruitment is March 8, 2004. Applications received after that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constrains permit.

The criteria for participation are as follows:

• 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 of US$900;
  
• 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. The guidelines are found in the official Trade Mission Application.

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