Doing Business Abroad: How the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service Can Help You
Since Tyromer was founded in 2009, the company has worked closely with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS). In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how this government service has helped us to grow our business abroad and why we’ve found their assistance invaluable over the years.
What is the Trade Commissioner Service?
The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service was founded in 1894 and the first trade commissioner was posted to Australia the following year. As part of Global Affairs Canada, trade commissioners work out of embassies, consulates, and high commissions in more than 160 cities around the world to help qualified Canadian companies “prepare for international markets, assess potential markets, find qualified contacts [and] resolve business problems.”
How Tyromer Has Benefited
Local Connections. The power of a trade commissioner should not be underestimated when it comes to making local connections. In Tyromer’s experience, the involvement of a trade commissioner on our behalf often translates into increased confidence in our legitimacy as well as a greater willingness to set up an initial meeting. As Sam Visaisouk, Tyromer’s CEO, says, “I think one of the biggest benefits is people see you as a legitimate company.”
Conversely, when Tyromer is approached by other companies, one of our first steps is often to contact the Canadian trade commissioners in that country for assistance in finding out whether the company is above board. We can then make a more informed decision about how or whether to proceed with any potential partnerships. In one case, Sam tells me, trade commissioners looked into a local business that had approached Tyromer, but it “didn’t check out and we just thought it wasn’t worth it.”
Material Assistance. In addition to providing intangible goods such as a good reputation, the TCS also offers material benefits. For example, the service allows Canadian companies to book meeting rooms at embassies and consulates. Tyromer has taken advantage of this possibility numerous times in different countries. According to Sam, it goes back to legitimacy: “If you tell someone that our meeting will be at the Canadian embassy, I think it legitimises who we are. The embassy is a place of respect, and that aspect is really important instead of just meeting in a hotel conference room.”
Trade commissioners also assisted Tyromer during the pandemic. Strict limitations on international travel initially prevented a Europe-based engineer from coming to Windsor, Ontario, to commission our new system there. The Canadian trade commissioner in the engineer’s country of origin secured special permission for him to enter Canada, and made it possible for us to progress according to our original schedule.
As Sam says, “They just help in general!”
Publicity/Events. The TCS regularly organises trade missions around the world. Among other things, these trips allow Canadian companies to get acquainted with potential markets, meet government leaders, visit sites, and network with local businesses and economic decision-makers. While Tyromer has not joined any trade missions organised by the TCS, we have participated in an Ontario-led trade mission to China.
Nevertheless, Tyromer has attended a number of other events where the TCS was there to smooth the way. For example, at the Circular Materials Conference in Göteborg, Sweden, in 2018, Canadian trade commissioners introduced us to a number of stakeholders whose interest in rubber recycling was not something of which we were previously aware.
In the Netherlands, Canadian trade commissioners worked closely with us to set up our facility in Arnhem. Not only did they provide assistance on the ground, they also spread the word about Tyromer on Twitter. This amplification of our message allowed us to reach an audience that might not necessarily have had our technology on their radar.
Ambassador Lisa Helfand also attended the open house to inaugurate the Arnhem facility.
Furthermore, in November 2021, the embassy arranged for Tyromer’s CTO Jos van Son to attend a roundtable discussion at the Global Center on Adaptation in Rotterdam. This event brought together innovators, researchers, and adaptation and sustainability leaders from around the Netherlands. Also in attendance was Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with whom Jos was lucky enough to get a photo!
Final Thoughts
Working with the TCS has obviously proved fruitful thus far for Tyromer. As we continue our work both at home and abroad, we feel sure that we can turn to the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service for support for our future endeavours.
For more information about Tyromer, visit our homepage and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service’s website can be found here.