Taking Your Business Abroad
Calgary Economic Development offers a number of services and resources to help you take your business abroad. Our Global Business Centre connects regional companies hoping to venture into foreign markets with international companies who are exploring investments and expansions in Southern Alberta. This is done through programming and events, as well as incoming and outgoing trade and investment missions.
In addition, Calgary Economic Development's extensive resources section identifies trade and consulate offices, and international and domestic trade partners.
There are a number of key industries that make up Alberta's exports globally, including energy, agriculture and manufacturing. The Government of Alberta's International and Intergovernmental Relations department tracks these statistics and provides annual reports; visit the International and Intergovernmental Relations website to view Alberta's top exports for 2011.
Priority Regions
Japan, China, Mexico, and the United States are regions that are of particular interest to businesses in Southern Alberta. These are the countries with the highest trade activity, and the areas that are expected to hold most of the export opportunities in the near future.
Calgary Economic Development has identified China, Hong Kong, Colombia and Australia as key markets of focus for 2012 and will be embarking on outgoing trade missions to these regions. To learn more, visit the trade missions section.
Japan
Alberta's exports to Japan
$1.472 billion (Est. 2010)
Alberta's main exports to Japan
Canola seeds, pork, wheat and meslin, wood and woodpulp, and coal.
Sector opportunities
Agrifood, education and training, energy, health and bio-industries and information communication technologies.
Did you know
Japan's economy accounts for about 10 per cent of the world's GDP. Japan has the world's second largest foreign exchange reserves, holding an average of $990 billion USD in 2010.
Alberta imports from Japan
From 2006 – 2010, direct imports to Alberta average $242 million per year consisting primarily of vehicles, machinery and electronic machinery.
Japanese investment in Alberta
Greater than $3.1 billion in the forest products, oil sands, energy, petrochemicals, food processing and tourism sectors.
Relationship overview
Japan is a key overseas economic partner for Alberta, accounting for 15% of non-US exports. Alberta also enjoys a multifaceted relationship with Japan that includes strong business ties, cultural and sports exchanges, educational initiatives, municipal twinnings, people-to-people activities, and a sister province relationship with the prefecture of Hokkaido.
China
Alberta's export to China
$2.781 billion (2010)
Alberta's main exports to China
Ethylene glycerol, plastic, sulfur, canola seed and oil, and nickel.
Sector opportunities
Agrifood, Building products, education and training, energy, health and bio-industries, industrial machinery and equipment and information communication technologies.
Did you know
With the world’s largest population, China is the world's second largest consumer and the second largest net importer of oil after the U.S.
Alberta imports from China
From 2006 – 2010, Alberta’s direct imports from China averaged $1.54 billion including machinery, computer components, iron pipes and a variety of consumer products.
Relationship overview
Alberta's trading relationship with China has more than tripled since 2003. China is Alberta’s second largest trading partner, accounting for 27 per cent of Alberta’s non U.S. exports in 2010.
Mexico
Alberta's export to Mexico
$743.8 million (Est. 2010)
Alberta's main exports to Mexico
Beef, canola seeds, machinery, and wheat.
Sector opportunities
Agrifood, Energy, Environmental products and services, waste and wastewater treatment, solid and haxardous waste, industrial environmental and environmental consulting services and geomatics.
Did you Know
Alberta-Mexico two-way trade was more than $1.7 billion in 2009.
Alberta imports from Mexico
Alberta imported $759 million worth of goods from Mexico in 2009, principally television receivers, communication equipment. Motor vehicle parts, steel pipe, and tobacco.
Relationship overview
Under NAFTA, Mexico has been one of Alberta’s fastest growing export markets and has risen to become the province’s fourth largest overall trade partner, accounting for 7 per cent of Alberta’s non U.S. exports in 2010.
United States
Alberta's Export to the U.S.
$67.4 billion (2010)
Alberta's main exports to the U.S.
Crude oil, natural gas, plastic, machinery, organic chemicals, oil and meat.
Sector opportunities
Aerospace and aviation, agrifood, architecture engineering and construction, building products, environmental products and services, health and bio-industries, industrial machinery and equipment, information communication technologies, and petrochemical and refined products.
Did you know
Alberta was the first province to promote free trade with the U.S. who now provides 2/3 of foreign investment and 60 per cent of foreign tourists to Alberta.
Relationship overview
The U.S. is Alberta’s largest trading partner, accounting for 87 per cent of Alberta’s total exports in 2010.
