Mission Description

The International Trade Administration of the U. S. Department of Commerce, Commercial Service in Montreal is organizing a "Commercial Security 2003" trade mission, which will visit Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto from June 16-19, 2003. Participating U.S. companies that specialize in security equipment for commercial, industrial and institutional use will benefit from briefings by local experts on the Canadian market, a networking reception and pre-scheduled, pre-screened one-on-one meetings with Canadian security equipment and services companies. Mission participants will also benefit from special presentations by the Canadian federal and provincial procurement agencies.

Commercial Setting

Canada's security equipment sector is expected to grow at a real annual rate of 15-20 percent in 2003. Industry experts have reported that in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the United States, Canadians are thinking more about safety and security issues. The Canadian security industry is registering a stronger demand since these attacks, and recent reports indicate that there is a substantial increase in security expenditures in Canada. Many firms are tightening their security measures, and increasing education of their employees concerning security. This initiative will provide U.S. security companies excellent opportunities to supply their products and services to this growing market in Canada.

With the strong growth forecast to continue in the Canadian security sector for the foreseeable future, opportunities for U.S. security suppliers in a broad range of sub-sectors have never been better.

Mission Goals

This trade mission's goal is to maximize export opportunities for the participating U.S. companies in this vital sector by providing an inexpensive and, effective method of meeting new international buyers, partners, agents, distributors, representatives and joint venture partners.

Mission Scenario

U.S. firms will take part in formal matchmaking sessions with Canadian companies and Canadian federal and provincial representatives, and will be given several opportunities to interact with other local company or government contacts at a networking event. The matchmaking sessions will take place in a hotel meeting room reserved for that purpose. Participating firms will also benefit from briefings by local experts on the Canadian security market.

Timetable

The Commercial Security Equipment Trade Mission will take place June 16-19, 2003.

Participants arrive according to their own schedule on June 15. The event will start on June 16 in Ottawa at the U.S. Embassy Auditorium with a welcome briefing by the Minister-Counselor for Commercial Affairs. The briefing will be followed by a presentation on "Doing Business with the Canadian Government" by a representative of the Public Works and Government Services. There will be an on-line demonstration of the Merx Canadian government procurement web site. A luncheon will take place followed by individual one-hour meetings with government officials. The Commercial Service (CS) Ottawa will host a networking reception immediately following the appointments. Participants will be on their own for dinner.

On June 17 the participants will travel by chartered bus to Montreal. Commercial Service Montreal will give a short orientation briefing to the Canadian market during the ride. Upon arrival in Montreal, a continental breakfast will be provided followed by a briefing by industry speakers who will present the participants with Quebec security industry highlights. Following lunch will be individual one-hour meetings with Quebec local company representatives. A networking reception hosted by the Consul General will follow. The next day, June 18, the participants will continue their one-on-one meetings with local company representatives. That evening they will travel to Toronto.

On June 19 the participants will receive a briefing from CS Toronto and proceed to all day one-hour meetings with Toronto-based company representatives. They will depart Toronto that evening.

The deadline for receiving completed applications is April 16, 2003. Applications received after the application deadline will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Recruitment and Criteria for Participation

Commercial Service Montreal will recruit U.S. firms. Criteria for participation are as follows:

• Relevance of the company's business line to mission goals
  
• Potential for business in the selected Canadian markets in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.
  
• Timely and adequate provision of company product/service information and literature, to enable communication of company's objectives and scheduling of appointments.
  
• Timeliness of company's completed application, participation agreement, certifications and payment of participation fee of US$1800. The fee does not include airfare, hotels, meals or other personal expenses.
  
• A minimum of 5 or a maximum of 10 companies participating in the mission.
  
• Certification that the company meets U.S. Department of Commerce guidelines for participation, including certification that the company's products and/or services are manufactured or produced in the United States. If the company's products and/or services are manufactured or produced outside of the United States, the product/service must be marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and must have U.S. content representing at least 51% of the value of the finished goods or service.

Recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Internet, press releases to the general and trade media.

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

Contact Information

Connie Irrera
Commercial Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service
Consulate General of the United States of America
P.O. Box 847
Champlain, NY 12919
Tel: (514) 398-9695, ext. 2262
Fax: (514) 398-0711
E-mail: connie.irrera@mail.doc.gov