Closed
PAPDE — Component 3 : Promotion of foreign trade and prospecting for foreign investments
Support for businesses in exportation and attracting foreign investments
Last Update: June 9, 2026
Funding available
$ 500,000
Timeline
- Closing date : March 31, 2026
Location
Quebec, Canada
Overview
The Promotion of Foreign Trade and Prospecting for Foreign Investments grant offers up to $500,000 annually per organization to support economic development initiatives aimed at boosting exports and attracting foreign investment in Quebec. Eligible activities include export development projects such as training, international event participation, digital promotion, and investment attraction strategies.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Access new markets
- Raise awareness or mobilize a population
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 500,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Closing date : March 31, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Quebec
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- International Activities
- Business Associations
Target groups
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
- Academia / students
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Provincial
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Awareness-raising, training, and support activities for companies focused on export development.
- Support for companies participating in events such as trade shows, fairs, or commercial showcases outside Quebec.
- Creation and development of a virtual showcase and its online referencing.
- Creation and development of a marketplace.
- Digital promotion of Quebec's key export sectors.
- Hosting foreign speakers or buyers in Quebec.
- Economic studies covering export potential.
- Organization or participation in events like trade shows, fairs, colloquiums, or commercial showcases, including virtual formats.
- Digital promotion of a municipality, region, or key sectors of Quebec to attract foreign investments.
- Hosting investors and intermediaries in Quebec to attract foreign investments.
- Strategies or economic studies on foreign investment potential.
- Participation in events outside Quebec aimed at attracting foreign investments.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Non-profit organizations legally constituted under the laws of the Government of Quebec or Canada with an establishment in Quebec.
- Organizations whose primary mandate is economic development.
- Organizations from the education network and Quebec educational institutions.
Who is not eligible
- State-owned enterprises or companies controlled directly or indirectly by any government (municipal, provincial, or federal), municipal entity, or business that is majority-owned by a state-owned company.
- For-profit companies with a registered establishment in Quebec.
- Companies listed in the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts (RENA).
- Organizations currently bankrupt or insolvent.
- Enterprises or organizations committing ethical breaches or offering products or services that could compromise the integrity or probity of the Quebec government.
Eligible expenses
- Salaries of employees directly involved in the project (if not covered by the organization's operational aid).
- Consulting fees.
- Travel and accommodation expenses for visitors within Quebec.
- Equipment and venue rental.
- Non-refundable portion of sales taxes, if applicable.
- Costs for advertising, social media publishing, newsletters, and search engine marketing (e.g., AdWords).
- Fees for using a virtual business exhibition platform.
- Server costs.
- Costs for renting and managing a television set and control room.
- Travel and accommodation expenses outside Quebec.
- Registration fees.
- Rental and setup costs for exhibition or display spaces.
Eligible geographic areas
- Companies with an establishment in the province of Quebec.
Selection criteria
- Cohesion between the project, the objectives of the specific component of the program, and the governmental priorities regarding exportation and economic development.
- Relevance of the project concerning the needs of Quebec’s industry and its businesses.
- Capacity of the organization to successfully carry out the project in terms of financial and human resources.
- Potential impacts of the project on the targeted industry or companies.
- Quality of the provided documentation.
- Evidence of the adoption and implementation of eco-responsible practices by the project promoter.
- For collaborative projects involving more than one regional export promotion organization (ORPEX), the innovation aspect for companies, offering synergies, and interregional expertise.
How to apply
- Step 1: Preparation of necessary documentsWrite a detailed description of the project and develop a financial plan.
- Prepare the financial statements for the last two years or forecasts for a start-up organization.
- Gather the service offers, partnerships, and any other required documents such as the declaration of compliance with the Employment Equity Access Program, and the certificate of French language compliance if applicable.
- Include any other necessary documents based on the nature of the project (market study, marketing plan, curriculum vitae, etc.).
- Step 2: Filling out the application formCarefully complete the financial assistance application form by following the instructions provided.
- Step 3: Submission of the application by emailSend the duly completed and signed application form along with all required documents by email.
- Indicate "Projects of organizations for the promotion of foreign trade or the prospecting of foreign investments" in the subject line of the email.
- Submit your application before March 31, 2026, to the address pexeq@economie.gouv.qc.ca.
Additional information
- The maximum funding cap for governmental aid cannot exceed 80% of eligible expenses for export projects and can reach 100% for foreign investment attraction projects.
- Funding is provided as a non-repayable grant.
- Applicants are required to submit documented evidence that activities have been carried out as outlined in the grant agreement.
- A verified financial audit report confirming financial movements is required.
- Grantees must produce an annual activity report in a format approved by the minister.
- Applicants must provide a report on expenses claimed for the completion of projects and the sources of funding.
- Additional required documents will be specified in the subsidy agreement.
- Inquiries can be sent to pexeq@economie.gouv.qc.ca for assistance.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- PAPDE — Component 1 : Supporting the development of entrepreneurshipSupports Quebec entrepreneurship development with non-repayable grants
- PAPDE — Component 2 : Support for the development of strategic sectors and regionsSupport the economic development of strategic sectors and regions
Frequently Asked Questions about the PAPDE — Component 3 : Promotion of foreign trade and prospecting for foreign investments Program
What is the PAPDE — Component 3 : Promotion of foreign trade and prospecting for foreign investments?
The Promotion of Foreign Trade and Prospecting for Foreign Investments grant offers up to $500,000 annually per organization to support economic development initiatives aimed at boosting exports and attracting foreign investment in Quebec. Eligible activities include export development projects such as training, international event participation, digital promotion, and investment attraction strategies.
How much funding can be received?
PAPDE — Component 3 : Promotion of foreign trade and prospecting for foreign investments Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $500,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the PAPDE — Component 3 : Promotion of foreign trade and prospecting for foreign investments program?
To be eligible for the PAPDE — Component 3 : Promotion of foreign trade and prospecting for foreign investments program, you must:
The applicant must be a legally constituted non-profit organization under Quebec or Canadian law with an establishment in Quebec.
The main mandate of the applicant must be economic development.
The applicant must not be listed in the Register of Ineligible Enterprises for Public Contracts (RENA).
What expenses are eligible under PAPDE — Component 3 : Promotion of foreign trade and prospecting for foreign investments?
Awareness-raising, training, and support activities for companies focused on export development.
Support for companies participating in events such as trade shows, fairs, or commercial showcases outside Quebec.
Creation and development of a virtual showcase and its online referencing.
Creation and development of a marketplace.
Digital promotion of Quebec's key export sectors.
Hosting foreign speakers or buyers in Quebec.
Economic studies covering export potential.
Organization or participation in events like trade shows, fairs, colloquiums, or commercial showcases, including virtual formats.
Digital promotion of a municipality, region, or key sectors of Quebec to attract foreign investments.
Hosting investors and intermediaries in Quebec to attract foreign investments.
Strategies or economic studies on foreign investment potential.
Participation in events outside Quebec aimed at attracting foreign investments.
Who can I contact for more information about the PAPDE — Component 3 : Promotion of foreign trade and prospecting for foreign investments?
You can contact Government of Québec by email at pexeq@economie.gouv.qc.ca.
Where is the PAPDE — Component 3 : Promotion of foreign trade and prospecting for foreign investments available?
The PAPDE — Component 3 : Promotion of foreign trade and prospecting for foreign investments program is available the province of Quebec.
Is the PAPDE — Component 3 : Promotion of foreign trade and prospecting for foreign investments a grant, loan, or tax credit?
PAPDE — Component 3 : Promotion of foreign trade and prospecting for foreign investments is a Grant and Funding