Amount: up to 400 CAD per day / up to $1000 per event organisation

The Alberta Export Expansion Program (AEEP) supports Alberta’s small- and medium-sized enterprises, industry associations, Indigenous organizations, economic development organizations that promote Alberta exports through international travel to formal outbound trade events.

Eligibility requirements

The following organizations are eligible to apply to the Alberta Export Expansion Program (AEEP):

  • Alberta-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

  • Industry associations

  • Indigenous organizations

  • Economic development organizations

  • Other non-profit organizations that support Alberta exports through participation in formal international trade events

To qualify for funding, all applicants must:

  • Be a legally incorporated entity in Alberta

  • Be in good standing with the Government of Alberta and have fulfilled all obligations under any previous provincial grant agreements

  • Have operated in Alberta and maintained a permanent physical presence in the province for at least one year

  • Have sent Alberta-based representatives to participate in an international trade or export-related event outside Canada and be able to provide proof of event registration

  • Expect government funding to cover no more than 75% of the total trip costs

  • Submit their application within two months of the first day of participation in the formal event

For-Profit Organizations

In addition to the general requirements, for-profit applicants must:

  • Report annual gross revenue between CAD $250,000 and CAD $25 million

  • Have at least one full-time equivalent employee based in Alberta

  • Have employed fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees during the last fiscal year

  • Be entering a new market (defined as a country or U.S. state where annual sales are CAD $150,000 or less; if sales exceed CAD $150,000 in the most recent tax reporting year—or the last 12 months for monthly or quarterly filers—they must represent less than 15% of the company’s total annual sales)

  • Have a defined strategy for trade promotion and export development in the target market(s)

  • Be export-ready

Non-Profit Organizations

In addition to the general requirements, non-profit applicants must:

  • Provide services that support Alberta SMEs in trade and export development

  • Have at least one full-time equivalent employee based in Alberta

  • Demonstrate how participation in the formal trade event(s) benefited Alberta companies

Funding

Funding will be provided as a grant on a first-come, first-served basis, based on per diems and event registration.

Per diems

  • $400 CAD per day for the first traveler
  • $200 CAD per day for the second traveler

Per diems are provided for the duration of the formal event(s) the applicant organization attends, plus 2 days per application to accommodate air travel (proof of travel required).

Per diems are only calculated for dates of formal international trade event participation.

Event registration

  • Reimbursement of formal event registration fees up to a maximum of $1,000 CAD per organization for each event.