Category: International Business

Caribbean Fall Trade Mission | November 21-25, 2022

Posted on by kieran

econext, in partnership with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Department of Industry, Energy, and Technology (IET), is continuing its work assisting firms in the investigation of and pursuit of international business opportunities in the Caribbean region, with particular focus on the Green and Blue Economies.

Registration will be closing September 16, 2022 for the Fall mission to the Caribbean region with an intent to focus travel primarily around the business week of November 21-25, 2022.

Each delegate firm/organization may select to receive support services in up to two markets.

What's Included

Participants in this trade mission will receive:

  • Matchmaking and Mission Support provided by Amber Mackereth Consulting
  • Hotel Block/Group Rate*
  • Airport Transfers In-Market
  • Networking Reception(s)*
  • Ground Transportation to Off-Site Meetings
  • In-market Debriefs/Troubleshooting Sessions*
  • Mission Follow-Up Services/After-Care
  • Travel Stipend: Delegates are responsible for their own travel costs. However, a travel subsidy from IET may be available for eligible NL participants.

*in anchor markets/markets with sufficient delegate presence

Interested in participating in the mission to do your own follow-up meetings? Consider registration as an Associate Delegate!

Contact abbie@econext.ca to register as an Associate Delegate

Eligibility

To register for the Fall mission, companies must meet the following criteria:

  • Clear financial standing with econext and its funding partners ACOA and IET
  • Completion of registration form and mission profile
  • Confirmed payment of registration fee – $600.00 + HST for Full Delegate | $200.00 + HST for Associate Delegate
  • Demonstrated export readiness/market research
  • Confirmation of flight itinerary by October 7, 2022.

It is highly recommended that firms considering this trade mission have completed preliminary market analysis/research.

COVID-19 Considerations

The guidelines put in place by the Government of Canada as identified under Global Affairs Canada Travel Advisory and Advice must be adhered to including any other travel restrictions and protocols that may apply: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories

Eligible Markets: While target markets are customizable, destinations will only be considered eligible when the travel advisory is set at risk level one or two.

Companies will be expected to exercise due diligence when selecting markets and planning travel.
Public health guidance including mask mandates and entry/exit requirements will vary between jurisdictions.
econext and its partners assume no responsibility, in whole or in part, for delegate travel complications, delays, or interruptions including those related to health restrictions.

Delegates are strongly encouraged to consult with their travel insurance providers prior to travel.

The following links provide additional information related to international travel. Please refer to the Government of Canada’s links for the latest travel restrictions, exemptions, and advice:

FAQ

FAQ

What are the target markets for this mission?

Our missions are customizable! We believe that each delegate should select markets that make sense based on your own objectives and market research instead. Receptions, briefing sessions, etc. will take place in “anchor markets”, or markets seeing significant delegate presence.

What happens if public health guidance changes regarding non-essential travel?

Should econext decide that travel to the region is no longer advisable prior to the creation of mission meeting programs, the mission may be postponed.

If travel restrictions change after matchmaking has begun, the mission may pivot to a virtual format. It takes considerable time and effort to create and confirm tailored meeting programs, and delegates will be expected to devote similar attention and effort to the execution of a virtual program if need be.

Registration

Click Here to Register!

Registration deadline for this mission is September 16, 2022, however early registration is encouraged!

*Please note that there are a limited number of spaces available for this opportunity and that meeting the minimum eligibility criteria does not guarantee registration.*



If you have any questions about the econext Fall Mission, Please Contact Abbie at abbie@econext.ca.

econext’s Fall Mission to the Caribbean is taking place the week of November 21-25

Posted on by kieran

Click here to learn more!

CANCarib Climate Smart Opportunities Summit – Doing Business Bootcamp

Posted on by kieran

The High Commission of Canada in Jamaica is hosting the inaugural CANCarib Climate Smart Opportunities Summit (CCSOS), a high-level (hybrid) business initiative for Canadian companies, targeting the portfolio of cleantech and associated infrastructure projects in Jamaica. The CCSOS has three (3) components, zeroing in on facilitation of eligible/interested TCS clients with sectoral and market capacity. The components are as follows:

Part I: Opportunities Roundtable – July 6, 2022 – 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Part II: Doing Business Boot-Camp – September 20, 2022

  • This virtual session is intended to provide a full orientation on doing business in Jamaica, to equip Canadian companies with information, processes, tools and tips, the legal process, business development, potential local partners, local project financing/banking, licenses/permits, work permits, etc. when doing business in Jamaica. Presenters will include local officials and experts, facilitated by the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) at the High Commission of Canada in Kingston, Jamaica.

Part III: Business-2-Business Forum – October 20, 2022

Learn more and register

EOI: Companies in Atlantic Canada Looking to Advance International Business Interests Related to Cleantech, Oceans, and Europe

Posted on by kieran

econext is welcoming expressions of interest from firms based out of Atlantic Canada looking to progress their export and internationalization objectives.

To qualify for supports, firms must:

  • be based in either Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or Prince Edward Island.
  • provide or are developing technologies, products, or services that improve environmental performance or inform on environmental performance related to ocean-based industries
  • have an interest in expanding on existing long-term interests and activities in or in partnership with European markets

A limited number of eligible firms will access econext supports to enhance their international business strategies. These supports will include:

  • an analysis of existing strategies to ensure they are incorporating changing circumstances (e.g., the impacts of covid-19, accelerated international discussions around net zero and the energy transition)
  • advice on changes that should be considered given these changing circumstances
  • advice on next steps that the firm might take in updating its long term internationalization strategies, including guidance on government programming available to support these efforts

Firms are encouraged to indicate their interest by April 1, 2022. Please contact Abbie Hodder with your questions and interest at abbie@econext.ca.

Webinar: Blue and Green Opportunities in the Caribbean Basin

Posted on by kieran

This webinar summarizes research undertaken by econext that explores the emerging blue and green opportunities in Caribbean markets that are specifically relevant to Atlantic Canadian capabilities. Presented by the study’s expert authors.

In 2020 econext commissioned a report with the objective to (1) provide an overview of current strategies and specific program and project development in the Caribbean pertaining to the blue and green economy, and (2) gain an understanding of how capabilities within Atlantic Canada might be applicable.

Join International Business Development Consultant Amber Mackereth, Dr. Angus Friday (Atlantean Inc.), Bill Chislett (MI International), and Marlene Power (MI International) who authored the report to present on their findings and provide relevant updates and developments in from 2020-21.

Access the webinar for free HERE

A copy of the full report can be accessed by contacting econext’s COO and International Business Manager, Abbie Hodder at Abbie@econext.ca

Caribbean Customized Consulting and Advisory Services | Caribbean Region

Posted on by kieran

econext is offering another iteration of the Caribbean Customized Consulting and Advisory Services for a limited number of companies. The services will be delivered between January and April 2023. Companies who are new to the Caribbean marketplace and are considering applying for econext’s Spring Trade Mission (May 2023) may find it beneficial to utilize this program for market research, strategy development and pre-mission virtual engagement.

Each participant firm/organization will benefit from the following services:

  • 50 consulting hours per firm to address the unique needs of project participants. Participants will be able to select from a variety of services to generate a customized work plan of consulting service support. This support could range from mentorship and strategy development, to support with development of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) and project proposals. (See attached application form below).
  • During the course of the consulting services cycle, the consultants will monitor relevant procurement portals regularly to identify and disseminate relevant Caribbean procurement opportunities to participating organizations in a timely fashion.

Admission criteria include:

  • Clear articulation of interests and objectives in the application form
  • Demonstrated completion of follow-up activities including exit surveys (for past participants in the econext/NEIA Caribbean Program)
  • Export readiness
  • Substantiated rationale for interest in the Caribbean region
  • Commitment to necessary level of effort to execute workplan

Company participation:

This program has a limited number of spaces and requires a fair amount of commitment from companies, particularly at the outset. As such, please note the following expectations/requirements.

Companies who cannot commit to the timeline indicated below should not apply to this program.

Selected companies will be expected to:

  • Complete an introductory interview and provide the consultant with a clear and concise (one-page) description of your company’s product and service offerings to enable accurate procurement opportunity identification by January 13, 2023
  • Work with the consultant to develop and finalize a work plan by January 25, 2023
  • Maintain regular communication during the project period
  • Adhere to the workplan and schedule as agreed upon with the consultant
  • Complete a detailed exit survey upon conclusion of consulting engagement to report on activities completed, outcomes and results achieved
  • Companies failing to meet minimum communication criteria will forfeit their remaining consulting hours

Notes:

  • This is not an “on-call” consultant advisory service. Selected companies will agree (in writing) with the consultant on a clearly defined workplan for this engagement
  • Bios are available below for the team that will be delivering this consulting service. If you are interested in applying for this program but would like to have a preliminary call with the lead consultant, Amber Mackereth, to discuss your objectives prior to application, please do not hesitate to reach out.
  • There is a cost of $600+HST per firm/organization, which will be invoiced upon successful admission to the program
  • Applicants must be in good standing with project partners (econext, IET, ACOA)

Completed applications must be sent to abbie@econext.ca by COB on Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Please fill out the application below

Consulting Team

Amber Mackereth has worked closely with econext and its members on international business development initiatives in the past and has a wealth of experience and well-established networks throughout the Caribbean. She provides guidance to firms across Atlantic Canada on the subject of international business development, conducts international market research, and provides business matchmaking services for international trade missions. In addition to work experience in most of the English-speaking Caribbean, Amber has also lived in the Spanish-speaking markets of Cuba and Costa Rica. She is fluent in English, French, and Spanish. Amber has led, or played an integral role in, the successful execution of more than 20 international trade missions, including fifteen trade missions to the Caribbean region. She has worked with more than 30 of econext’s members to develop customized market entry strategies for the Caribbean region (including English, French and Spanish-speaking markets) and has prepared research reports for NEIA focused on Caribbean Blue & Green Economy initiatives (2020); opportunities and market entry tactics for Spanish-speaking Caribbean markets (2020); and Caribbean Climate Finance.

Marlene Power, International Program Officer at MI International, Marine Institute, and MI International’s lead on engagement in the Caribbean, has worked in the business, education, development, and humanitarian sectors in multiple regions of the world for over 20 years. She has secured and managed numerous international initiatives in the Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, and Africa ranging from short consultancies to multi-year projects, working with a variety of clients and funders. Her experience in the Caribbean region includes projects and initiatives within the Blue and Green economy in Barbados, Grenada, Anguilla, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname across multiple sectors. In 2020, Marlene was a member of a team retained by NEIA to conduct research on Blue and Green Economy opportunities in the Caribbean Basin. Marlene has been both a participant of Trade Missions to the Caribbean as well as an organizer of various independent business development missions into the region. She is thus intimately familiar with their challenges and success factors of and brings unique perspective to the team.

Hugh Wilkinson, principal of Coral Hill LLC, is an expert in business development in emerging markets. With a focus on ‘IFI Procurement’ and the strategic pursuit of business funded by the World Bank and other IFIs, he provides end-to-end consulting in international business planning, strategic engagement, partnering, and bidding to win. His clients have included the major IFIs, foreign governments, consulting, law and technology firms, NGOs, and Canadian federal and provincial government agencies. He has been a trusted advisor and business consultant to companies like Microsoft, HP, GE, Hachette Livre, Gowlings, Dillon Consulting, and dozens of Canadian SMEs. With 30+ years’ work experience in global development, Hugh is also a specialist in the design, management, and evaluation of development projects. He has undertaken numerous market assessments throughout the English and Spanish-speaking Caribbean, led multiple project assignments in Guyana, the Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, and Belize, and maintains a broad network of contacts throughout the region. Most recently he was contracted by NEIA to conduct an in-depth analysis of markets in ten Spanish-speaking countries in the Caribbean and to provide related support to five NL CleanTech/OceanTech firms in developing and implementing strategic market plans in the region. He resides in St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador.