lill Global Symposium: Alison Nankivell, EDC

Five key takeaways from the interview:

• Geopolitical uncertainty and tariffs are the biggest immediate challenge for Canadian exporters.
  EDC says tariffs have increased operating costs, reduced margins, and left Canadian companies with less working capital, making it harder for them to invest and expand into new markets.
• EDC is helping Canadian companies diversify beyond the US.
  The US remains Canada’s largest trade partner, but EDC is actively supporting exporters as they pivot into Europe and Asia Pacific, where it sees growing opportunity.
• Asia Pacific and Europe are major growth regions for EDC.
  EDC has built a strong APAC presence, with 12 representations in the region and $14.8 billion in business facilitated last year. Europe is also growing, with around $16 billion facilitated, and new offices planned in Sweden, France and Poland.
• Priority sectors include energy, energy transition, agriculture, defence, advanced manufacturing and critical minerals.
  EDC sees strong alignment between Canadian industrial strengths and demand in overseas markets, especially as trade corridors expand around LNG, oil and gas, resources, commodities and agri-food.
• EDC’s shopping line product has evolved into deeper strategic corporate engagement.
  What began as “shopping lines” has developed into connections financing and the Market Leaders Programme, where EDC builds curated partnerships with large international corporates and introduces vetted Canadian suppliers that fit their strategic needs.

Interested in finding out more?