Atlantic Chamber Program Helps Companies Break Into European Market
HALIFAX – The Europe Market Development Program (EMDP) aims to provide companies with affordable professional trade development and with an individualized market entry strategy for their products and companies.
The program is designed for experienced exporters to expand their presence and grow sales in new industry sectors and countries in Europe.
“We provide them with insights into where opportunities exist for their particular products or service in the larger 500-million consumer market in the European Union and the United Kingdom,” said Glenn Davis, the EMDP Manager.
The program is a collaborative effort between the federal government and the Atlantic provinces. It leverages new opportunities offered under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). CETA provides companies with preferential access to export opportunities and economic growth.
“Our consultant identifies specific connections for the companies and facilitates those connections with companies, associations, and key contacts within specific markets to create awareness of the Atlantic Canadian companies and pursue opportunities to makes sales of their particular product or service,” said Davis.
Through consulting and developing a strategic plan to enter the European market, Atlantic companies are then prepared to grow their markets internationally.
“It’s certainly the experience of the companies that are applying to the program have demonstrated an interest in growing their markets. They’re looking beyond just surviving the pandemic’s impacts and are seeing growth outside Atlantic Canada as an opportunity to both survive and thrive,” said Davis.
The participation fee for companies is $4,750 plus tax and in return companies receive 20 days of professional consulting that Davis estimates to be valued close to $20,000.
“The key point is getting companies to appreciate the facilitative aspect that the program provides, that it gets them a profile in Europe through the use of an in-market consultant,” said Davis.
While entering the program does include the option of free short-term shared office space located in various urban European centers, companies can participate without leaving Atlantic Canada.
The EMDP has attracted innovators like SubC (Newfoundland), MetaMaterial (Nova Scotia), Top Dog Manufacturing (Prince Edward Island) and Thermalwood (New Brunswick).
In order to apply to the program, interested companies can visit the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce website and fill out the application form. While the current capacity is 28 companies per year, Davis hopes to see this number expand in the coming months.
“We’re looking for companies who can demonstrate experience and a significant interest in working with our consultants in executing sales strategies in specific markets in Europe,” said Davis.
Liam Floyd is a reporter for Huddle. Send him story suggestions: [email protected].