International trade missions and events
Expanding your creative business globally requires more than a great work or product — it demands access to the right people.
The Creative Export Strategy delivers trade missions and supports business programming at trade events to connect export-ready Canadian creators directly with trusted, on-the-ground industry and government leaders. This helps them gain local visibility and creates opportunities for global growth.
What’s more, being part of a government delegation brings proven benefits, including market credibility, stronger sales and job growth.
Read on to find out about current opportunities, what to expect during trade missions and events, and how to participate.
On this page
- Current opportunities
- About trade missions and events
- Preparing for trade missions and events
- Contact Us
- Related links
Current opportunities
- Creative Industries Trade Mission to China (applications closed)
- Global Affairs creative industries events abroad (filter by creative industries and/or consumer products)
- Subscribe to our newsletter to find out about upcoming missions and events!
About trade missions and events
Every year, Canadian Heritage delivers at least one international creative industries trade mission in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada. This can include participation in Team Canada Trade Missions along with several other sectors.
Trade missions typically take place over 3 to 5 days and can involve visiting multiple cities and/or countries. Delegations consist of 15-30 businesses, on average, and can include separate government and industry streams.
Participants learn about doing business in the target market through a tailored program:
- Market intelligence briefings: Local industry experts share market opportunities, challenges, and cultural business norms.
- Business-to-business (B2B) meetings: Participate in an average of 5 to 10 pre-arranged matchmaking meetings with vetted buyers in the target markets.
- Networking events: Targeted sessions connect you with the local business community, local government representatives and foreign officials.
- Site visits: Curated tours of world-class creative facilities, institutions, and technology labs.
For each mission:
- Business programs are tailored to sectors with the highest potential to make commercial connections in the target markets.
- Target markets are selected based on Canada’s top creative export markets, potential for growth and government priorities.
- Participating creative sectors will vary based on best fit with the target market and purpose of the mission.
The Creative Export Strategy also supports business programming for Canadian delegates at a limited number of international trade shows, conferences, fairs, and festivals each year.
How to participate in trade missions
Participation in trade missions is a competitive process. While selection criteria vary from mission to mission, they generally include the following:
- Export-ready: You have an export-ready, commercialized product or service, and a strategy for the target market.
- Canadian: Your business or non-profit organization is Canadian-based, owned, and controlled.
- Economic benefit: You can demonstrate that your participation will result in economic benefits for Canada (e.g., generate revenue, create jobs, increase production in Canada).
- Commercial momentum: You are in active negotiations with companies in the target markets and would benefit from a government mission to conclude commercial agreements.
Priority consideration may be given to:
- Specific creative sectors that align directly with the selected target market's growth opportunities.
- Businesses and organizations owned or led by entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds (e.g., women, Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized entrepreneurs, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities).
Recent trade mission destinations have included Mexico (February 2026), East Asia (June 2025), South Korea (Spring 2024) and Japan (Fall 2023). Check out our Creative Export Strategy Data Viewer (filter by activity) to see what other markets and events we have targeted through the Creative Export Strategy.
Costs and funding for trade missions
What Canadian Heritage covers:
- All costs related to delivering the official on-site program. This includes B2B matchmaking services, networking venues, and local group ground transportation between program events.
There is no fee to join a trade mission.
What your organization covers:
- All travel costs, including airfare, accommodation, ground transportation and meals not included in the program. You are also responsible for making your own travel arrangements.
Funding support
Don’t let travel costs stall your global expansion. There are several export funding programs designed to help Canadian small-and-medium enterprises and non-profits cover international travel costs:
- Consult the government’s Business Benefits Finder to find programs and services that meet your needs.
- You can also connect directly with our Creative Export Navigator Service to receive personalized guidance on available trade funding streams.
Preparing for trade missions and events
If you are selected to participate in a trade mission, Canadian Heritage and/or Global Affairs Canada will hold information sessions prior to your departure for you to learn more about doing business in a given market. You will also receive market intelligence briefings during the mission.
If you want to improve your export skills on your own, visit the Trade Commissioner Service’s Events and Training page, where you will find training programs, webinars, tips for success at trade events and much more.
Contact Us
If you have questions about upcoming schedules, eligibility criteria, or how to prepare your business for international markets, contact the International Trade Operations team at:
✉️ Email: missioncommerciale-trademission@pch.gc.ca