GATINEAU, May 20, 2022

By supporting talented creative industries in their efforts to export and grow, the Government of Canada is achieving the dual goals of supporting Canada’s economic recovery and strengthening its relationships with its international partners. Indeed, Canadian artists and creators play a vital part in relationships that promote Canadian interests and values around the world, and the creative industries play a key role in the Canadian economy: in 2019, they accounted for $57.1 billion (or 2.7 percent) of Canada’s total GDP and nearly 673,000 jobs.

The Creative Industries Trade Mission to Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands, led by Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage, has just come to a successful conclusion. It allowed 29 Canadian companies from various creative sectors (audiovisual, music, performing arts, book publishing, digital and interactive media, fashion, and more) to learn more about the characteristics and opportunities of these three markets and to explore new business opportunities in order to be more competitive on the international market.

This in-person trade mission built on the success of individual virtual missions to these markets in 2020 and 2021, which resulted in more than 540 business-to-business meetings with 250 European participants.

This mission resulted in 360 business-to-business meetings involving 131 European participants.

Minister Rodriguez also took advantage of his visit to Europe to attend important meetings with his European counterparts and partners, showcasing the impressive talent of Canadian entrepreneurs in the creative industries and strengthening bilateral relations.

While creative industries have been particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, they remain a vehicle and engine of growth and prosperity for Canada as it moves toward economic recovery.