The U.S. Commercial Service (CS) in Montreal and Toronto will host a two-stop Healthcare Technologies Seminar and Export Mission in Canada April 7-10, 2003. This export business development mission is designed to provide small-to-medium sized export-ready companies with a first-hand opportunity to become familiar with the Canadian Healthcare market, establish new and profitable commercial relations, and access valuable marketing information from up-to-date industry briefings. This four-day program will provide technical seminars on Canadian Healthcare markets and an agenda of scheduled individual business appointments in each of the two most populous regions in Canada. The U.S. Commercial Service will assist individual participants with:

• Seminar Programs on Selling to Quebec and Ontario Healthcare Markets
• Pre-qualified and Pre-scheduled Individual Business Appointments
• Market Exposure through Promotion to Key Industry Buyers in Canada
• Individual Business Counseling Services provided by CS Trade Specialists
• Post-Event Follow Up Support
• Logistical Support During Visit in Canada

U.S. companies selling the following products to hospitals and clinics are well suited for this export business development event:

• Medical Diagnostic
• Medical Therapeutic
• Medical Surgical Instruments
• Medical Supplies (Hospitals & Clinics)
• Emergency & Mobile Medical Equipment
• Medical Laboratory Equipment

The Canadian economy continues to grow at rate outpacing that of the United States. The Canadian economy is therefore expected to outperform its G-7 counterparts. Business investment should also benefit from low interest rates and firming commodity prices, which bodes well for corporate profits, employment, and consumer spending.Additional funding form the federal government in the coming years is expected by provinces who carry the responsibility of delivering healthcare services under Canada's Health Act. AS a result more money should be spent on acquisition of new medical equipment and supplies.

Mission Goals

The mission's goal is to provide U.S. firms with a cost-effective and efficient method of entering the Canadian market by providing the opportunity to develop relationships with, and promote their products to, potential representatives, buyers and business partners in Canada.

The Healthcare Technologies Seminar and Export Mission in Canada is a two-stop event, which will commence at each of the two stop cities with a half-day technical seminar program on selling to the region's health care market. It will be followed by an afternoon and a next day a.m. schedule of pre-arranged one-on-one meetings with qualified Canadian business partners.

This trade event will be conducted in Montreal and Toronto, starting April 7 and ending April 10, 2003.

Montreal - Sunday P.M., April 6, 2003 - Arrival of participants in Montreal
Montreal - Monday April 7, 2003 - Seminar (a.m.) - one-on-one appointments (p.m.)
Montreal - Tuesday April 8, 2003 - One-on-one meetings (a.m.) - Travel to Toronto (p.m.) Toronto - Wednesday April 9, 2003 - Seminar (a.m.) - one-on-one appointments (p.m.)
Toronto - Thursday April 10, 2003 - One-on-one meetings (a.m.) - travel home (p.m.)

Recruitment will be undertaken by CS Montreal with the assistance of the Healthcare Team, U.S. Export Assistance Centers, State Economic Development Offices, Small Business Associations, U.S. multipliers and associations. Promotion of the event will be handled by e-mail, direct mail, outreach and video conferencing. The event is listed on CS Canada's home page, http://www.buyusa.gov/canada/.The criteria for participation are as follows:

• relevance of the company's business line to mission goals;
• potential for business in the home health care market;
• timeliness of the company's completed application/ registration material and payment of the mission participation fee;
• provision of adequate information on the company's products and/or services and communication of the company's primary objectives;
• certification that the company meets the Department's guidelines for participation.

Any partisan political activities of an applicant, including political contributions, will be entirely irrelevant to the selection process.