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Frequently Asked Questions
Expand Your Business Operations to British Columbia
We are in the software industry and will be looking to hire software engineers with specific skillsets in Vancouver. We hear great things about Vancouver. Would you be able to show us how our hiring needs can be met by local I.T. talent?
Our website highlights relevant information regarding Workforce & Talent Pipelines within the province of B.C. In addition, there are up-to-date resources related to our Sectors that provide specific labour force data that may be of some help. Industry associations such as the BC Tech Association and Innovate BC are excellent resources for exploring talent pools in British Columbia’s technology sector and our Investor Services team can also help in guiding you through this process. Additionally, the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Tech stream offers expedited pathways for technology workers, which can support your hiring needs.
We are looking to open a new office in British Columbia. Would you be able to point us to commercial property that will meet our needs and walk us through cost considerations for various locations?
There are several resources that highlight commercial properties and locations available throughout B.C. Please visit our Site Selection and Locations resources to access some of these resources. We can also help facilitate the process of finding a potential location and other considerations in establishing a physical presence. We would also encourage you to contact our Investor Services team who would be happy to assist you with your investment in B.C.
I would like to make connections with B.C. companies interested in becoming distributors of our products. Can you help facilitate introductions with potential distributors?
Trade and Invest BC does not offer services in facilitating imports. If you are looking to engage with potential British Columbia companies regarding your offerings, we recommend contacting and networking with one of the many industry associations applicable to your products or services in the province. Many are listed in the sector descriptions on our website.
Capital Investment in British Columbia
Our firm is seeking to make investments in opportunities that adhere to sustainable business practices. Are there incentives available that help reduce risk in technology innovation?
B.C. prides itself on its effort to grow innovation and businesses that support sustainability throughout the province. British Columbia offers several programs supporting sustainable innovation. Our Investor Services team would be happy to discuss the various programs and opportunities in place that support innovation and sustainability.
We have found a company that we are very interested in partnering with. Are you able to point us to professional advisors and local investors in helping shape a deal?
We would encourage you to contact our Investor Services team who would be happy to connect with you regarding your inquiry. Our team can facilitate introductions to professional service providers including law firms specializing in corporate transactions, accounting firms with M&A expertise, and investment networks such as the BC Angel Technology Network (BCATN) and Venture Capital Association of BC (VCABC).
We are looking for innovative opportunities in the Clean Tech industry that are market ready. What’s happening in B.C. and are there companies in this space that are ripe for investment?
We encourage you to explore relevant sector webpages on this site and specifically check-out the links to related resources such as industry associations that make up the Clean Tech ecosystem. Key organizations include the BC Cleantech CEO Alliance, Foresight Canada, and the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS). A representative of our Investor Services team can also facilitate networking with companies in the Clean Tech industry. British Columbia’s CleanBC plan and the CleanBC Industry Fund support market-ready clean technology companies, and our team can connect you with companies participating in these programs.
Our company is growing rapidly in our business space and we are looking to grow capacity and strategic capabilities by investing in innovative companies that complement our product portfolio. Can you help?
Our Investor Services team can help connect you to industry groups and resources to help with your pursuit. We can also support B.C. companies seeking foreign financial capital. We can facilitate connections with organizations such as the Venture Capital Association of BC (VCABC), BC Angel Technology Network (BCATN), and sector-specific accelerators like Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) Vancouver to identify strategic investment opportunities.
I am interested in immigrating to Canada with my family, investing in a new or existing business. Can you help me find a business to purchase?
Support services for immigrant investors falls outside the scope of services that Trade and Invest BC provides. We recommend engaging with Welcome BC first to understand and start the immigration process. Welcome BC offers services and initiatives to help newcomers settle into British Columbia. For business immigration pathways, you may also wish to explore the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration stream, which supports individuals looking to establish or purchase a business in British Columbia. Additionally, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) administers federal business immigration programs.
Buying British Columbia Goods and Services
What is the best way to connect with potential suppliers of agricultural and seafood products?
Each of our Sector pages highlight various resources and industry associations that you may find relevant in searching for existing suppliers. We also recommend connecting with one of our Trade and Industry representatives for more personalized information.
We distribute products in various parts of Europe and are concerned that tariffs and various trade restrictions may impede us from purchasing Canadian products. Can you help?
Our Trade Policy and Negotiations team encourages inquiries of this nature and are here to help. We would encourage you to contact our Trade Policy team who would be happy to connect. Canada’s Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union eliminates tariffs on 98% of Canadian products exported to the EU, which may address many of your concerns. Our team can provide guidance on how CETA and other trade agreements apply to your specific products.
We have found a company in B.C. that can supply the products we require. However, we will be needing to warehouse and store these goods till which time shipping containers are available. Can you help?
We can facilitate the process of finding a potential warehouse location and other logistical considerations. Please contact our Export Services team to discuss how we can assist you with your inquiry. British Columbia has significant warehousing and logistics infrastructure, including facilities at the Port of Vancouver (Canada’s largest port), the Port of Prince Rupert, and throughout the Lower Mainland. We can connect you with logistics providers and warehousing operators such as members of the BC Trucking Association and the Western Transportation Advisory Council.
Exporting British Columbia Goods and Services Internationally
We are a small company and are not sure if we have the means and resources to export abroad like a large company. Can you help us?
Exporting is a way to grow even a small business. We suggest exploring one of our export capacity development programs to gauge your potential and readiness. You may also want to consider how Canada’s 15 free trade agreements covering 51 countries can provide you with a leg up on your international competitors. These include the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
To establish a presence in Europe we need an economical and efficient way to meet with potential buyers and partners there. How can you help?
The Province of B.C. maintains a global presence internationally including offices located in Europe. Trade and Invest BC operates international offices in key markets including London (United Kingdom) and other strategic locations. Our Export Services team can highlight programs and upcoming events that may assist in developing your export capacity to the key market you’re interested in reaching. We regularly organize trade missions, participate in international trade shows, and can connect you with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), which has extensive networks throughout Europe. Please contact us, we are here to help.
We see two programs available to help B.C. businesses become export ready. Which should we choose? Export Navigator or the Trade Accelerator Program? Are these programs free?
The Province offers two programs that help companies learn more about exporting and help them develop export capacity: Export Navigator and the Trade Accelerator Program. Both programs are free to eligible B.C. businesses. Please refer to the program page to learn more about these programs, determine which may be a better fit for your business, and to register or apply for either program. Export Navigator is designed for businesses new to exporting or exploring export potential, while the Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) is suited for businesses ready to actively pursue international markets with a more intensive, cohort-based approach.
Our company already sells to the U.S. and we see potential for our products in other markets such as India. Should we contact the Trade and Invest BC representative directly in India for help?
Trade and Invest BC supports programs that help grow the export capacity of B.C. companies. Please contact our Export Services team first to discuss how we can assist you in India or other markets where B.C. has an office. Trade and Invest BC maintains a presence in key European markets including the U.K. Our Export Services team will coordinate with our international representatives to provide market intelligence, facilitate introductions, and support your market entry strategy. Additionally, the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) has extensive networks in the U.K. that can complement our support.
We are considering diversifying our export markets. How can Canada’s free trade agreements (FTAs) make our goods/services more competitive abroad?
Free trade agreements (FTA) provide a degree of certainty in uncertain times, advance and protect B.C.’s competitive advantages, open new markets, remove trade barriers, generate new trade opportunities (including for Indigenous peoples), lower business costs, improve labour mobility and are a critical part of attracting new investment into B.C.’s regions. FTAs apply to all sectors of the economy and many areas of trading relationships, including goods, services, and investment. Canada’s free trade agreements include major agreements such as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) covering 11 Asia-Pacific nations, the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), and the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA). Our Trade Policy and Negotiations team can help you navigate FTAs to ensure you are making the most of them.
Our business is facing a barrier to trade. How can we seek to have it addressed?
Trade barriers include onerous or duplicative administrative procedures, quantitative restrictions (such as quotas), price controls, licensing requirements and product labelling requirements. Trade barriers take two forms – tariff and non-tariff. It is important to remember that not all regulations and procedures will be considered a trade barrier. Some regulations make sense, such as those aimed at protecting public health or the environment. If you are facing a legitimate barrier, contact us to report the issue. A portal is operated by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) and Global Affairs Canada. Our Trade Policy and Negotiations Team can also seek to have the issue addressed by advocating for you to the relevant authorities through channels including the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) dispute resolution process for interprovincial barriers, or through federal channels for international trade barriers. At the bottom of this web page, you will also find important information as to the steps to claim preferential treatment in FTA markets.
Non-Trade and Investment inquiries
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