Funds programs for Atlantic Canadian businesses at various stages of trade and investment development
Services
Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy/Agreement (ATIGS/ATIGA)
Pan-Atlantic federal-provincial strategy (launched 2017, renewed 2022) and funding agreement ($20 million over five years from April 1, 2022, cost-shared by the Government of Canada and the four Atlantic provinces) that funds firm-focused programs to help Atlantic businesses begin exporting, increase export sales, diversify markets, and attract investment. Delivers programs such as Launch Export Atlantic Incubator, the Market Entry Development Program, the Tariff and Customs Advisory Program, UK Market Bridge, and annual sector trade missions.
Overview
Pan-Atlantic federal-provincial strategy (launched 2017, renewed 2022) and funding agreement ($20 million over five years from April 1, 2022, cost-shared by the Government of Canada and the four Atlantic provinces) that funds firm-focused programs to help Atlantic businesses begin exporting, increase export sales, diversify markets, and attract investment. Delivers programs such as Launch Export Atlantic Incubator, the Market Entry Development Program, the Tariff and Customs Advisory Program, UK Market Bridge, and annual sector trade missions.
Key numbers
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instrument | program/envelope |
| Level | atlantic |
| Region | Atlantic Canada |
| Administrator | Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) with the four Atlantic provinces |
| Budget | $20,000,000 |
| Intake status | Agreement runs to 2027; component programs have their own intakes |
| Non-US bias | Diversification of Atlantic exports and reduction of reliance on the US market |
Eligibility
Core partners
Government of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador
Strategic sectors include aerospace and defence, ICT, biosciences, mining, energy innovation, ocean technologies, and seafood
What it covers
Trade and investment readiness (target 30% of agreement)
long-term capacity building (e.g., Launch Export), training, firm preparedness, pathfinding, market intelligence, ecosystem support
Market engagement (target 70% of agreement)
long-term in-market programs (e.g., MEDP, scale-up hubs), short-term missions, trade shows, conferences and events
Programs delivered
Launch Export Atlantic Incubator, Market Entry Development Program, Tariff and Customs Advisory Program, UK Market Bridge, sector trade missions (e.g., aquaculture to Glasgow, bio to BIO2026, ocean-tech to SMM Hamburg)
Market and diversification rules
Priorities
identify firms poised for growth, support diversification into new and existing markets, and attract foreign direct investment
How to apply
Apply to specific component programs through provincial agencies (Invest Nova Scotia, Opportunities NB, Innovation PEI, or NL Dept. of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development)
For ACOA business information services, call 1-888-576-4444
Stacking notes
Programs under the agreement complement provincial and federal export grants
Notes
$20M over five years from April 1, 2022 (renewed agreement); original 2017 agreement invested close to $20M over five years
Trade-help summary attributes $14M federal (ACOA) and $6M from the four provinces
International exports accounted for 32% of the region's GDP in 2019; the US was 68% of regional export sales in 2020
Relevant services
The services below are grant-eligible: CanExport and EDC reimburse up to 50% for incorporated Canadian exporters.
Book a free readiness call
Grant programs can reimburse up to 50% of eligible market-entry costs. In one free call we tell you honestly whether your product fits a non-US market.
Book a free readiness call