Fast Encourages Canadian Companies to Use E-Commerce to ‘Go Global’

International Trade Minister Ed Fast today hosted a Go Global export workshop on e-commerce at Google Canada’s Toronto office, where he highlighted the enormous benefits of Canada’s pro-export plan to create jobs and growth and the tools available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

During the workshop’s panel discussions, Fast pointed out the importance of the Internet and e-commerce to international trade, noting that several of Canada’s recently concluded free trade agreements contain provisions that will facilitate trade in the digital economy.

Minister Fast was joined by representatives from several Canadian companies active in e-commerce, including Andrea Stairs, Managing Director of eBay Canada; Gordon Reed, Director, Customer Relations, UPS Canada; Jason Maloney, Vice-President, Business Development, Thinkwrap Commerce; and Sam Sebastian, Country Manager, Google Canada.

Quick Facts

• Under the Global Markets Action Plan, the government set a goal of nearly doubling—from 11,000 to 21,000—the number of Canadian SMEs exporting to emerging markets.
• Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently announced $50 million in direct financial assistance to Canadian SMEs for market research and participation in trade missions. This will help between 500 and 1,000 Canadian entrepreneurs per year reach their full export potential.
• In 2014, the government announced the Digital Canada 150 initiative to help Canadian companies take advantage of opportunities provided by digital technologies. Under the initiative, the government is investing $300 million of venture capital in digital companies through the Business Development Bank of Canada and a further $200 million to support SMEs with digital technology adoption.

Quotes

“In today’s modern economy, it is becoming increasingly important for companies to include e-commerce in their business plans. Today’s Go Global workshop provided many opportunities to discuss how small and medium-sized enterprises can take advantage of the Internet and digital technologies to compete both at home and in international markets. Our government will continue to be a strong partner in their journey to expand their markets and create opportunities here in Canada.”

– Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade

“Thanks to the Internet and the emergence of new business platforms, even the smallest company can now adopt and afford technology that would have been the envy of a large corporation 15 years ago. Now, more than ever, companies of all sizes can compete in the global economy—and the Internet brings them to your doorstep. At Google Canada, we look forward to helping bring more Canadian small and medium-sized businesses online so that they can reach more potential customers at home and abroad.”

– Sam Sebastian, Country Manager, Google Canada

Associated Links

• Global Markets Action Plan
• Google Canada Export Business Map

Contacts

Max Moncaster
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Ed Fast
Minister of International Trade
343-203-7332

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca

 

Fast Encourages Canadian Companies to Use E-Commerce to ‘Go Global’