Calgary Economic Development (CED) is helping guide local companies into international markets through programming and trade missions, including this week’s Asia Tech in Singapore.

Asia Tech x Singapore, from May 29 to 31, is exposing Calgary companies to AI, quantum computing and sustainable computing, along with a broad range of exhibitions and conferences on tech and media.

There are 12 Calgary companies in Singapore for this latest trade mission, each with different goals, according to Chad Kultgen, Manager, Trade with CED.

“I would say most often the case is that the companies are looking to expand their networks, look at partnerships with local companies in the region,” he told LWC.

“How can how can they potentially begin exporting into those markets? So, a lot of the times that can be done through partnerships.”

Shona Reilly, director of trade for CED, who has been to past Asia Tech conferences said events like this present a variety of opportunities for Calgary companies. There are exhibition areas where the booths are set up, but there are also direct business-to-business meeting areas.

They work closely with Alberta and Canadian trade groups as well, fostering different connections between companies.

“We try really hard to give companies as many opportunities as possible, but they have to also do their own legwork on that. So that’s a really big piece for us is that we don’t necessarily do business development for them,” she said.

“We’ll help them as much as possible, but we really do advise that when they’re going into these markets, that they try to have a few of their own meeting setup or even wish lists.”

Serene Yew, CEO and Director of Technology for Pixeltree, a Calgary-based software consultancy, went to Singapore on the CED trade mission. Yew is a Singapore citizen in Calgary and felt she could help bridge the cultural gap for fellow Calgary companies.

“I felt that I could use my experience here to really showcase what our tech economy has to offer the world,” Yew told LWC.

“My knowledge and understanding of the Singapore culture, coupled with my experience in Calgary’s business sector, we are positioning Pixeltree and Calgary as the offshore partner of choice for Singapore companies looking to expand into North America.”

Trade Accelerator Program ramping up Calgary companies’ global prep

Reilly said that they do what they can to help companies prep for the possibility of reaching outside Calgary, or even Canada with their goods or services. They do several trade missions annually, too, opening up Calgary to a global audience.  More than 120 trade deals have resulted in the past five years from outbound trade missions.

CED’s Trade Accelerator Program (TAP – Alberta), a free program for Calgary businesses, helps prep companies for what to expect when reaching into other markets. They also run a new series of program called the Global Trade Classroom

“We have this community of companies that are really looking outward more, and I think we get we are starting to see this direct correlation of global expansion and local extension,” Reilly said.

There are typically 20 companies in each TAP cohort, with workshops held across Alberta. More than 400 companies have gone through the program thus far, Reilly said.

“Gone are the days that it’s Calgary, Alberta, Canada, US and then the rest of the world,” she said.

“Calgary companies are looking outward a lot quicker, and maybe it’s because they’re coming up with these amazing technologies and solutions that Canada may not be the best fit for that first product market.”

Kultgen said there’s a collateral effect of going global and attending trade missions or participating in workshops with other companies. Many start to see local business opportunities pop up as well.

“It’s amazing what can happen when you go on a mission and you’re spending time together, having a group of companies really get to know each other,” he said.

“I think a lot of the times it’s maybe not the goal, but once they get to know each other, when we’re on the mission, people start making deals between each other as well.”

Reilly said that they want to support as many Calgary businesses as possible to reach global markets, heading missions like the Asia Tech x Singapore. After that, she’s heading with Alberta companies to the Dublin and London Tech conferences to continue the work. Kultgen is taking more than a dozen companies to Collision in Toronto.

“I think that we’re I think we’re hitting above our weight, honestly,” Reilly said.

“We always have this mentality that the world needs more Canada and the world needs more Calgary and I would say that businesses are really buying into that.”