2014-15 Canada-China Business Forum Magazine | Page 18

CATEGORY TITLE TRADE “Smaller Canadian exporters should seriously consider China as part of their growth strategy,” says Hall. “Particularly given China’s influence on emerging markets, new consumers and supply chains in the region.” L’Heureux agrees. “Right now we see a lot of opportunities to get more SMEs into these emerging global supply chains. Either directly, or indirectly,” he adds. Certainly, China can be an intimidating market for SMEs, acknowledges L’Heureux. “But more often than not, what these smaller Canadian companies need is just for someone to help make that first connection.” “In the next five years, China is expected to overtake the U.S. to become the world’s largest consumer market.” - Denis L’Heureux “The opportunities in China play to Canada’s strengths,” adds L’Heureux. “And in the next five years, China is expected to overtake the U.S. to become the world’s largest consumer market. Canada needs to grow its presence now.” GROWING THE CANADIAN SME PRESENCE IN CHINA The Government of Canada’s GMAP strategy also places a specific priority on helping Canada’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access markets like China. It has a target to increase the presence of Canadian SMEs in emerging markets from 29 per cent to 50 per cent by 2018. Ambitious for sure, but SMEs are the rea