Market Entry Development Program

Overview of the Market Entry Development Program program:

The Market Entry Development Program (the “MEDP”) is an initiative of the Atlantic Trade and Investment Growth Strategy. The purpose of the MEDP is to assist Atlantic Canada companies expedite and scale export sales in international marketplaces with the support and professional guidance provided by the firm OCO Global.

Benefits of the Market Entry Development Program program:

• Participating companies will receive:
  • Access to an in-market business development consultant for up to 20 days to grow export sales and establish new business relationships
  • 10 or 20 days of international sales development services delivered over several months.
  • Opportunity assessment meetings and workplan prior to enrollment
  • Opportunity analysis via detailed market research
  • Advice on marketing and regulatory issues
  • Support and in-market representation from trade professionals (e.g., trade shows)
  • Connections and meetings with potential clients or sales partners
  • Access to additional government funding to support extended marketing efforts
  • A comprehensive, personalized market entry strategy

Eligibility criteria of the Market Entry Development Program program:

• To be eligible for the MEDP, the company must demonstrate that they:
• Are a provincially or federally registered company in good standing and headquartered inAtlantic Canada;
• Possess a fully-developed, exportable product and/or service that can be sold into European and Asian markets;
• Are interested in creating or expanding their international footprint, meaning a move to new markets or increasing their total sales volume in Europe or Asia;
• Possess a proven record or strong potential of revenue growth;
• Demonstrate the financial capacity to execute their strategy and support potential in-market activities;
• Have senior management commitment and the human resource capacity to execute the strategy, including internal and external sales and marketing support who will lead implementation including the potential of travel to market;
• Have the production and service capacity to meet projected increases in demand;
• Have given consideration to their expected outcomes in international markets including anticipated sales growth;
• Have an understanding of factors that may need to be addressed (e.g., competition, cultural competencies, import controls, intellectual property status, certifications, and regulatory, legal, taxation issues).