Welcome to: Business Development » Export

Trade Team PEI

Helping Islanders Export to the World

The goal of Trade Team PEI is to help link Prince Edward Island businesses to the global marketplace by helping businesses export their product or service. Trade Team PEI (TTPEI) strives to be proactive and innovative in providing market information, counselling, training and sales opportunities

Click here for a link to Trade Team PEI's Website

Trade Team PEI offers:

• general information
• trade training
• trade counselling and mentoring
• country and market infomation
• financial assistance
• in market support

Export Development Canada www.edc.ca

Canada Business Service Centre www.canadabusiness.ca/

Export Help Program www.tradeteampei.com

Upcoming Trade Missions www.tradeteampei.com

Are you export-ready?

The Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce asked Trade Team PEI what the first step is for a business wanting to export. Their advice – first ask yourself and your colleagues if you are READY to export. Then do the necessary research and planning, focusing “outwardly” on the market opportunities and challenges, and “inwardly” on the capacities and threats. This process will identify gaps in resources and provide knowledge you will need to address.

There are many sources of help available to guide you along your way. Organizations like Export Development Canada have very good assessment and readiness tools available online to assist you such as “ExportAble.” The Canada Business Service Centre offers access to considerable information resources. And through specific programs like Trade Team PEI’s “Export Help,” you can get consultancy-based support to undertake specific market research and planning related work.

While the risks and challenges associated with exporting may be significant and must be understood, the benefits and rewards are great. “Trade Team PEI,” composed of representatives from federal and provincial departments and agencies, is committed to working with the private sector to generate international business development and partnership opportunities. Trade Team PEI offers leadership and support to the export community through a “complementary” suite of business development activities (i.e., outbound and inbound trade missions, trade shows, marketing information sessions) and programs (i.e., Export Help) designed to help Island-based enterprises advance their interests in export markets.

In its annual Calendar of Activities, Trade Team PEI attempts to strike a balance between its commitment to strengthening PEI’s presence in existing markets like the United States, and initiatives that explore opportunities for growth in new markets such as Asia, Europe, Caribbean and Central/South America.

Trade Team PEI sees opportunities to better leverage the “Chamber” brand and business networks in some of the international marketplaces where trade missions are planned. On our most recent 2010 Trade Mission, an important connection was made with the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and a “seed” was planted for closer economic and business links between our Islands, through our local Chamber networks.

Building upon the momentum of this and a previous mission to the Caribbean Region, Trade Team PEI is planning a return to this market with a Trade Mission in collaboration with the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce in the spring of 2011. For details on Trade Team PEI’s calendar of events for 2010-11, visit http://tradeteampei.com.

Trade Team PEI looks forward to working more closely with the GCACC and its members in the coming year and beyond.

PEI’s export profile

PEI-based exporters of goods and professional services are actively pursuing and realizing international business development opportunities all over the world in both our traditional industries and knowledge-based sectors. PEI agri-food and seafood products are finding their way to supermarkets, restaurants and consumers across the United States and well beyond. We have a diverse base of advanced manufacturers, with expertise and specializations in aerospace, wood products and food processing equipment, and we continue to pursue niche opportunities in these sectors. We have an emerging bioscience cluster doing innovative R&D and IT firms developing video games and health software applications.

How the Chamber Can Help

Chambers of Commerce are recognized worldwide as credible business associations that facilitate the movement of goods and services internationally for their members.

The Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, provides members with unique and essential trade services that allow for fair trade and investment across international borders:

ATA Carnet: This exclusive service offering acts as a passport for goods, and is an international customs document that assists in the temporary importation of goods worldwide, free of duties and taxes.
Document Certification: The certification of certificates of origin and related documents is a requirement for many countries before either goods are allowed into the country or before processing exporter requests for entry procedures.

For more information contact the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce at (902) 628-2000 or chamber@charlottetownchamber.com, or visit the Canadian Chamber of Commerce at www.chamber.ca.