"ID","NameEn","NameFr","LeadDeptNameEn","LeadDeptNameFr","yearfrom","yearto","DescriptionEn","DescriptionFr","PlanDescriptionEn","PlanDescriptionFr" "3","International Business Development Agreement (formerly called : International Business Development Program)","Entente sur la promotion du commerce extérieur (auparavant appelé : Programme de promotion du commerce extérieur )","Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency","Agence de promotion économique du Canada atlantique","2011","2016","

Name of Lead Department: Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

 

Lead Department Program: Enterprise Development (sub-program: International Business Development)

 

Start Date: April 1, 2011

 

End Date: March 31, 2016

 

Total Federal Funding Allocation (from start date to end date): $7,000,000

 

Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement): In May 1994, ACOA entered into an agreement (the Canada-Atlantic Provinces Agreement on International Business Development, also known as IBDA) with the four Atlantic Provinces, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (formerly DFAIT) and Industry Canada to “undertake specific measures to optimize regional coordination on a pan-Atlantic scale and combine limited resources to coordinate trade-related activities.” Since its launch, the agreement has been extended five times (1997, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2011) for a total investment of $35 million from federal and provincial contributions. Funding is cost-shared 70/30 by the federal (through ACOA) and provincial governments.

 

The IBDA supports ACOA’s International Business Development (IBD) sub-program by coordinating efforts of federal, provincial and private-sector organizations in pursuing international business opportunities. This aligns well with Canada’s Global Commerce Strategy, which aims to strengthen the country’s position in international markets and reinforces Canada’s image internationally as a preferred business partner and premier investment destination.

 

More information can be found on the IBDA website.

 

Shared Outcomes: The shared outcomes for the IBDA partners support ACOA’s IBD activities: (1) expanded international business development activities by SMEs in Atlantic Canada and (2) identification of foreign direct investment opportunities in Atlantic Canada.

 

Governance Structure: ACOA is the lead organization for this initiative and houses the secretariat responsible for administering the agreement. A management committee, comprising a representative from each of the partners, is responsible for the planning and management of the agreement’s strategic elements and the evaluation of projects. Partners include:

 

Federal departments and agencies (70% funding)