Exporting is the process of selling goods and services produced in your country to customers in another country. When people think of exports, they often imagine big cargo ships and stacked pallets. But exporting also includes services, like a digital marketing company based in Canada working with American clients on a website design. 

At EDC, we recognize three broad categories of exporters: 

1. Direct exporters sell to customers outside Canada. Depending on the size of their company, they may have offices or sales reps overseas to help manage their business.  

2. Indirect exporters sell to Canadian companies that use their goods and/or service to enable their own exporting. For example, an Indigenous-owned forestry company that sells logs to a mill that makes products for the global market is an indirect exporter. 

3. Future direct exporters (“NEXTporters”) are companies that don’t sell internationally yet, but have a detailed export plan ready. 

Even if you don’t have annual revenue from exporting, EDC treats you as an exporter, and we want to work with you to grow your business internationally. 

We’re a Crown Corporation that supports economic growth through exporting for Indigenous communities and Canada.  We remove barriers to help you succeed internationally, so your business can create jobs at home and prosperity for generations to come. Guided by equality and respect, we’re dedicated to learning about, supporting and celebrating Indigenous communities and businesses.

Exporting can be profitable for businesses of all sizes and is often one of the best ways to expand your business. Canada is only a small part of the global marketplace (less than 2%), so doing business in other countries:

• increases your customer base; 
• gives you new revenue streams; and
• makes your business more resilient, sustainable and impactful for your community.  

EDC recognizes that Indigenous peoples were conducting nation-to-nation trade long before the arrival of Europeans. Resources, goods and knowledge were moved by water and land across Turtle Island, creating shared prosperity. This adventurous, entrepreneurial spirit remains strong in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, and taking your business global connects you to a proud tradition.  

EDC’s job is to take on risk, so you can grow your business with confidence and experience the export impact. We’re committed to helping Indigenous companies succeed internationally by making global trade safer for you. We offer tools and resources to help you learn about new markets for your products and services, access funding to grow, and protect your business. Working with us also provides an opportunity to build relationships with our global network of partners and trade advisors, as well as other Indigenous businesses, associations and financial institutions.