Would you like to export your products or services abroad? Now’s the time! Subsidies and preferential loans are available for Quebec and French companies! Here is more information.

Financial assistance available to Quebec SMEs

Programme de soutien pour la commercialisation et l’exportation (PSCE)

The Quebec government is investing $200 million to support businesses in the province to market and export their products or services. SMEs wishing to explore foreign markets will receive guidance at every step of their project.

What’s more, this subsidy covers up to $45,000 worth of an export consultant’s fees and travel expenses. An export consultant provides you with personalized support throughout your project and will be mandated to:

• Develop an export assessment, a business plan or an export or internationalization strategy;
• Allow you to learn about market development through coaching;
• Conduct a market study;
• Find and communicate with clients and partners;
• Recruit a distributer;
• Take the necessary steps to obtain contracts outside of Quebec by call for tenders or by invitation;
• Obtain approval for, proof of conformity, or certification of products for export;
• Undertake the process to set up an office, subsidiary or joint venture abroad, or to acquire a business outside Quebec;
• Register an international trademark;

Financial assistance is available to for-profit companies legally incorporated in Quebec, or those incorporated in Canada that have offices in Quebec, as well as social economy businesses and non-financial cooperatives.

The PSCE provides for non-refundable financial contributions of up to 50% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $250,000 over a maximum period of twelve months.

You can apply to the program by visiting www.economie.gouv.qc.ca/psce or by calling Investissement Québec at 1 844 474-6367 for more information.

CanExport SMEs Program

CanExport SMEs offers financial support  of up to 50% of eligible costs, from $10,000 to $50,000 per export project. So Canadian SMEs can apply for projects worth $20,000 to $100,000.

Eligible expenses include the cost of an export consultant, who can help you with the following:

• Regulatory issues such as intellectual property, market access and certification;
• Export market study;
• Feasibility study;
• Finding key contacts;
• Organizing meetings and twinning companies;
• Conducting a technological feasibility study.

CanExport SMEs is currently accepting new funding applications for projects that will start in fiscal 2022-2023 (after April 1, 2022). Fees for hiring an export consultant will therefore be covered beginning April 1st. CanExport decides on whether or not to grant financial assistance within 60 days or less after an application is submitted. So it’s a good idea to apply now!

Financial support offered to French SMEs and manufacturers

Chèques Relance Export

French SMEs and ETIs can continue to take advantage of the Chèque Relance Export after  submitting their eligibility file by June 30, 2022. This initiative, offered by Team France Export, is part of the French’s government’s recovery plan. It allows French companies to finance a part of their export prospecting efforts for products and services.

This voucher covers 50% of eligible expenses related to the support of an export consultant. This support covers preparation in France and prospecting in foreign markets. The financing includes the following:

• Up to 2,000 €of financial  assistance to cover the costs of hiring an export consultant for individual consultation (audit export assessment, export strategy structuring, market prioritization, individual prospection, communication, market study, etc.) + 800 € if the application includes text translation.
• Up to 1,500 €of financial assistance to cover the costs of hiring an export consultant for a group consultation for target markets (group prospection, business meetings, etc.) + 800 € if the application includes text translation.
• Up to 1,500 € of financial assistance to cover the costs of a training session offered by an export consultant. This training is intended for company heads, export directors and their teams.

***GoExport Europe is a Team France Relance (TFE) approved service provider.

Assurance prospection

L’Assurance prospection is an export support program offered by the French government via the Banque publique d’investissement (BPI). This program allows companies to benefit from the following:

• A cash advance for expenses related to prospection (50% of the amount at signature, and 50% after three years);
• Insurance in case export efforts fail (prospection expenses are reimbursed according to the revenues and the cost of hiring an export consultant are reimbursed if the export effort isn’t successful).

The prospection insurance includes:

• A three-year spending period during which you must use the prospecting budget;
• A two-year grace period ;
• A three-to-four-year repayment period (minimum flat repayment of 30% and additional repayment based on the sales in the target countries, or paid by the government if not successful).

We invite you to contact us for more details about the subsidies and loans that can help you export your products or services in 2022.

Montréal office: info@goexport.ca 

Lyon office: jbianco@goexport.ca or +33 6 30 59 61 76