Manitoba — Export Development Program (EDP)

• The applicant must be a for-profit small or medium-sized enterprise with fewer than 500 employees.
• The company must have a permanent establishment in Manitoba, be registered and in good standing with the Manitoba Companies Office, and hold an active and valid Business Number.
• More than half of the company’s workforce must currently reside in Manitoba, and the firm must produce or manufacture an exportable product or service in Manitoba.
• The company must have annual sales revenue of at least $30,000 and no more than $50,000,000 in the current or previous fiscal year.
• The project must involve participating in a business-to-business tradeshow or trade mission outside Manitoba, and the company must not have attended that same event more than two times in the last five years (unless eligibility is clearly demonstrated through new products or market opportunities).

Who is eligible?

• For-profit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based in Manitoba
• Manitoba companies that produce or manufacture exportable products
• Manitoba companies that provide exportable services

Who is not eligible

• Publicly traded companies.
• Not-for-profit organizations and industry or business associations.
• Government bodies and public sector entities, including government employees, Crown corporations, municipalities, towns and cities.
• Educational institutions such as universities, colleges or schools.
• External consultants, representatives, brokers, agents or other related service providers applying on behalf of clients.

Eligible expenses

• Accommodation costs for up to two company employees per event, within the program’s per-person and per-event caps, for stays up to one day before and one day after the approved trade event (excluding incidentals, timeshares, and cleaning/service fees on vacation rentals).
• Economy airfare departing from Manitoba to the event destination for up to two employees per event, including up to two standard checked baggage fees per person (excluding flights booked with points and vacation/group packages).
• Mileage reimbursements for personal vehicle use to travel to and from approved trade shows, calculated at applicable provincial mileage rates, when clearly linked to the event.
• Local ground transportation between hotel and trade show (e.g., taxis, Ubers, rail/train tickets) directly related to the event, excluding personal side trips and gratuities beyond the fare.
• Vehicle rental directly required for attending the event, for up to one day before and one day after the trade show or mission, excluding fuel, insurance, add-ons and trailer rentals.
• Shipping costs for equipment and materials required for trade show displays, when directly tied to the approved event (excluding storage or handling beyond shipping and non–trade-show items).
• Tradeshow or mission participation costs, including booth space rental, rental of basic booth furnishings (carpet, power, Wi‑Fi, display case, table, chairs) and event registration fees/passes (but not the purchase of furnishings).
• Translation of company marketing materials (such as brochures and product listings) specifically for the approved trade event, excluding printing costs.
• Fees for accredited interpreters hired for the trade event, covering interpretation services only (the interpreter cannot be a company employee, and their travel or out-of-pocket costs are excluded).
• Third-party market research services focused on the target export market or region, with clearly defined objectives and analysis linked to export or market-entry goals.
• Registration fees for trade preparedness training (courses, workshops, webinars and similar) that build knowledge for the target market or support participation in tradeshows or missions.

Eligible geographic areas

• Companies with a permanent establishment in Manitoba, Canada.

• Demonstrated benefit of attending the trade event for the applicant’s business (e.g., clear objectives and expected outcomes from the tradeshow or mission).
• Evidence of economic benefit to Manitoba, including the potential to increase export sales.
• Clarity of the business agenda or program during the trade event, particularly for non-exhibiting attendees or trade missions.
• Compliance with overall government funding limits for the event when combined with other public support.
• Completion of post-event evaluation and reporting on actual trade activity results as a condition for future support.

• The Export Support Program, which includes the Export Development Program, was updated with new parameters on November 24, 2025, and these parameters apply based on the start date of the tradeshow event.
• Applications are accepted on a continuous basis until available program funds are fully committed, and funding is not guaranteed even if eligibility conditions are met.
• Approved applicants may be contacted up to 12 months after the supported event to complete an evaluation on the actual export results, which is a condition for future support.
• The program reserves the right to refuse applications from entities that cannot demonstrate meaningful economic ties to Manitoba, even if they otherwise meet eligibility rules.