Brampton, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
In an increasingly complex and competitive global environment, Canadian businesses are looking for greater support as they actively diversify their exports to markets abroad. To support and guide Canadian businesses to grow and expand into global markets, the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, today announced the
creation of Canada’s Strategic Exports Office (SEO). Established within Global Affairs Canada and led in close collaboration with Export Development Canada, the new office will strengthen Canada’s ability to secure international business opportunities and coordinate senior-level commercial engagement in strategic sectors, including aerospace and defence, infrastructure and energy.The SEO will bring together Canada’s diplomatic, commercial and financial expertise to remove trade barriers and open more doors for Canadian companies looking to succeed in markets worldwide. By combining Canada’s diplomacy efforts, market intelligence and financial know-how, the SEO will support Canadian businesses pursuing strategic export opportunities by:
- identifying and advancing large-scale export opportunities critical to Canada’s economic interests
- coordinating whole-of-government engagement to support Canadian firms
- supporting targeted advocacy by senior government officials where it can be decisive
While in Brampton, Minister Sidhu also announced the launch of Canada’s Strategic Exports Advisory Council. The council will provide a forum for strategic dialogue between the Government of Canada and private sector leaders on trade diversification and the operations of the SEO. The council will advise the Minister on opportunities and challenges related to international trade diversification for Canadian businesses and provide real-time feedback on how to best support them. The members of the council are:
- OpenText – Ayman Antoun, CEO
- Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers – Lisa Baiton, President and CEO
- CAE – Matthew Bromberg, President and CEO
- De Havilland – Sherry Brydson, Owner
- Nouveau Monde Graphite – Eric Desaulniers, Founder, President and CEO
- AtkinsRéalis – Ian Edwards, President and CEO
- Cameco – Tim Gitzel, CEO
- Telesat – Daniel Goldberg, President and CEO
- MDA Space – Mike Greenley, CEO
- Canadian Chamber of Commerce – Candace Laing, President and CEO
- WSP – Alexandre L’Heureux, President and CEO
- Bombardier – Éric Martel, President and CEO
- Scotiabank – Scott Thompson, President and CEO
- Manulife – Philip Witherington, President and CEO
The Strategic Exports Advisory Council represents hundreds of thousands of jobs across Canada. Establishing the SEO and the Council reflects Canada’s commitment to trade diversification and supports our goal of doubling exports to markets beyond the United States by 2035. This positions Canada for long-term economic growth and creates opportunity and prosperity for Canadians here at home.
Quotes
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney, we have already secured more than $28 billion in international sales for Canadian companies. Today’s announcement builds on that work and accelerates it. That’s why we are bringing together leaders from some of Canada’s biggest companies, alongside diplomatic and financial specialists, as Team Canada. Canadian exports power our economy. They support millions of jobs and strengthen communities in every province and territory. The Strategic Exports Office and Strategic Exports Advisory Council mark a decisive step toward doubling our exports to non-U.S. markets. And they give Canadian businesses the whole-of-government support they need to compete and win around the world.”
- Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade
Quick facts
The Strategic Exports Office will focus on international commercial opportunities in strategic sectors and will support coordinated federal engagement and strategic advocacy.
Delivering on this mandate will require a sophisticated blend of Global Affairs Canada’s trade diplomacy function and Export Development Canada’s market intelligence and export credit financing expertise.
The Strategic Exports Advisory Council will comprise private sector leaders who will provide the Government of Canada with practical insights into the realities Canadian businesses face on the ground, helping inform Canada’s approach to trade diversification and the operations of the SEO.
Trade diversification efforts are already underway, with goods exports to non-U.S. markets up by roughly 17% from 2024 to 2025. Exports of goods and services to non-U.S. markets increased by $33 billion in 2025 compared to 2024, on the way to meet the target of generating $300 billion more in overseas trade in a decade.
In the last year, under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney, the Government of Canada has supported more than $28 billion in international sales of strategic exports.
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