CanExport Associations
The 2024-25 CanExport Associations application period is now closed. The 2025-26 application process for projects taking place between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026, is scheduled to commence in fall 2024.
Canadian national industry associations and trade organizations may access up to $250,000 in annual funding. We will cover up to 50% of eligible costs that support new or expanded international business development (IBD) activities related to commercial export for the benefit an entire industry: organization’s members and non-members alike.
What activities do we fund?
We support the following non-travel activities:
Export training support to industry (for example, training on intellectual property protection in foreign markets)
Creating/updating a strategy for international business development or market diversification
Gathering market intelligence (custom research, reports and studies)
Translating, adapting or creating marketing tools and materials
Participating to virtual international trade shows, networking sessions, meetings or conferences
Based on Government of Canada Travel Advisories, we also support:
In-person participation to international trade shows, networking sessions, meetings or conferences
Organizing international trade missions for SMEs in your industry
Organizing an incoming delegation of foreign buyers to Canada
Visits to foreign markets
Who can apply?
CanExport Associations accepts proposals from Canadian national trade organizations with member companies and a national mandate including:
- Canadian national industry or trade associations
- Canadian national bilateral chambers of commerce and business councils
- Canadian national horizontal / multi-sectoral trade organizations with a specific focussed mandate or theme:
- For example: Canadian national trade organizations representing companies majority owned by under-represented groups in trade (e.g. Indigenous, women, 2SLGBTQI+)
To be eligible, your organization must:
- be incorporated as a Canadian not-for-profit corporation, confirmed by articles of incorporation
- have sufficient private revenues to cover 50% of costs for proposed activities, confirmed by 2 years of financial statements of your Canadian applicant organization
- not sell products that are sold by your members
