Minister Ng announces investment to launch the Saskatchewan Trade Accelerator Program

When Canadian businesses export, they become more productive, create more jobs, grow faster, and invest more in research and development.

[On December 17, 2019], the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, announced a $240,000 investment to launch the Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) in partnership with the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP). This investment will help dozens of businesses in Saskatchewan overcome barriers to exporting and prepare for long-term success in new export markets.

TAP is part of the Government of Canada’s Export Diversification Strategy, a $1.1-billion initiative to increase Canada’s overseas exports by 50% by 2025. The Strategy is part of the Government’s plan to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) start up, scale up and access new markets.

Through 14 trade agreements, including the new Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, Canadian SMEs now have better access to 1.5 billion customers in over 50 countries. These efforts are paying off: Saskatchewan’s exports grew to $31.2 billion last year—an 11.2% increase over 2017...

This was excerpted from 17 December 2019 news release by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.