WHERE: Taiwan and Vietnam 

FORMAT: In-person 

THEME: Partnering for Sustainability  

WHAT: The mission will feature public conferences with high-level speakers from Canada, Taiwan, and Vietnam to discuss bilateral trade issues, gender inclusion in the economy with the goal of women’s economic advancement, and SME supports. The delegates will participate in personalized business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking, company pitches, and networking opportunities with conference attendees.

WHEN: November 17 to 23, 2024 WHO:  We encourage all women and non-binary entrepreneurs whose businesses align with the targeted sectors of this mission to apply. We especially welcome applicants from traditionally under-represented groups, such as (but not limited to) members of racialized and Indigenous communities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ folks, newcomers to Canada, and young entrepreneurs. Due to the limited delegate spots available, the selection process is competitive, and not all eligible applications can be accepted. Priority will be given to applicants who have not participated in previous women-only business missions led by APF Canada. Past participants are eligible to apply to the business mission; however, they may be asked to cover their own accommodations and airfare, at the discretion of APF Canada based on previous support. 

• To mutually showcase technology innovations from Canada, Taiwan, and Vietnam
• To provide networking opportunities for Canadian women in business with counterparts in Taiwan and Vietnam
• To provide an opportunity to share insights and best practices on women’s economic advancement 
• To facilitate business partnerships between Canadian delegates and their Taiwanese and Vietnamese counterparts

Individualized B2B matching, curated networking, and promotional opportunities. There is no fee to participate as a delegate. This program is generously funded by the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy Ecosystem Fund.

Expenses covered by the program:

• Round-trip economy class airfare to/from Asia, with travel between Taiwan and Vietnam as required
• Airport tax and facility fees
• Accommodation, ground transportation between official program events and locations, and meals during the official program in Taiwan and Vietnam
• Admission fees for scheduled activities in Taiwan and Vietnam that are part of the official program

The following expenses are not covered by the program:

• Travel between the participant’s home and the designated airport of origin, and any excess baggage fees incurred during the program
• Overseas travel insurance — participants are responsible for their own medical expenses in Taiwan and Vietnam 
• Loss or damage to personal belongings
• Travel upgrades or extensions to the official program

Please note: Participants are responsible for all personal expenses, including a passport valid for six months prior to departure, travel vaccinations, travel to/from the designated Canadian airport, accommodation and meals in Canada, and purchase of personal items/souvenirs prior to or during the program.

Successful applicants will be required to participate in all components of the mission, including:

• Pre-mission training meeting(s)
• All scheduled B2B meetings
• All official program events as scheduled by the organizer

Eligible applicants must operate:

•    A for-profit organization such as:

• An individually operated business
• A partnership
• A social enterprise
• An incorporated company, corporation, co-operative, or
• An Indigenous organization

•    A women-owned and/or women-led business*

•   A small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) with fewer than 500 employees, and

•    A business in operation for a minimum of two years

Eligible businesses must:

• Be export-ready and have demonstrated potential to succeed in Asian markets
• Have a commercialized product or service or one close to being commercialized
• Have conducted research on foreign markets and opportunities, especially preparatory work concerning the Taiwan and Vietnam markets
• Have allocated resources (human, material, time, and financial) toward internationalization
• Have a defined business model and financial forecasts (1-2 years) for discussions with potential third-party investors

The following are ineligible:

• Not-for-profit organizations, and
• Government entities

Priority will be given to entrepreneurs who:

• Have generated revenues (sales, capital investment, etc.) exceeding C$100,000 per year for the past three years
• Have made efforts to localize their product or service for an international market (not necessarily in Asia)
• Have developed proprietary technology with the potential for long-term competitiveness
• Are defining their primary product/market fit and establishing reasonable pricing models with a sales strategy/pipeline
• Have not participated in previous women-only business mission series led by APF Canada

* For the purposes of this program, please note:

• “Women” is inclusive of those who self-identify as women (including ciswomen or transwomen) or gender non-binary, gender-fluid, or gender nonconforming people. “Ciswomen” refers to someone whose gender corresponds to their assigned sex.
• “Women-owned” is defined as an enterprise where one or more women own and have owned the majority of the company (more than 50%) for at least two years.
• “Women-led” indicates an enterprise with at least one woman founder or co-founder in an executive leadership position who, for at least two years, has ownership in the company and has been in a position to control and manage the operation and daily business of the entity and plays an active role in strategic decision making. “Active role in strategic decision making” indicates said woman is involved in decision-making relating to the establishment of priorities, objectives, and goals for the overall operations of the business. 

For mission inquiries, please contact:

A.W. Lee, PhD
Director, Inclusive International Trade, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, Central Canada Office
205-375 University Ave.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 2J5

a.w.lee@asiapacific.ca