TFO Canada, the experts in trade for developing countries and the primary Canadian point of contact for emerging businesses exporting to Canada and other foreign markets will be showcased in this session featuring TFO Canada’s Executive Director, Steve Tipman. The session will include an overview on how the not-for-profit succeeds with creating sustainable trade partnerships by shedding a spotlight on recent success stories, including last year’s participation at the ATSC.

1. DIVERSIFYING YOUR SOURCES
OF SUPPLY BY WORKING WITH
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Presented By:
Steve Tipman, Executive Director
TFO Canada
August 20, 2018
www.ApparelTextileSourcing.com/canada/

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” These are beautiful designs, with great and vibrant colours.
There is a good market for mohair in the fair trade business.”
- Buyer from ATSC 2017: Products from Lesotho, Africa

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About TFO Canada
• Canadian not-for-profit operating since 1980
from Ottawa, Canada
• Statement of Purpose: Improving lives
through creation of sustainable trade
partnerships for exporters from developing
countries with Canadian and foreign buyers
• Beneficiaries: Tens of thousands of Small
and Medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and over
1,200 Trade Support Institutions (TSIs) from
50+ countries (Latin America, Caribbean,
Africa, Middle East, Asia);

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About TFO Canada
• Services: Information (market entry research,
information seminar); Advice (market familiarization,
product adaptation/development, product promotion,
SME and TSI capacity building); Contact (B2B
meetings through exporter trade missions & buyer
missions)
• Sectors: Apparel, textiles, footwear, fashion
accessories, home décor, furniture, food and
beverage, IT services, etc.
• Service delivery: Internationally experienced project
management staff and an extensive network of
associates (trade specialists, sector experts and
researchers)

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Trade Capacity Building Services
TFO Canada as Your Sourcing Partner

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Some of TFO Canada’s Services
• Exporter training
• Promoting businesswomen in trade
• Packaging and labelling workshops
• Product adaptation programs
• Commercial representation for trade and investment
• Trade association support
• Trade in services

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The Canadian Apparel Industry
Sourcing from around the world

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Apparel Sourcing
• Apparel Industry is highly labour intensive
• labour costs are the main contributor to sourcing from developing countries
• Other factors that affect the decision for apparel sourcing include
• assurance of consistent quality
• on-time delivery of products
• quantity requirements
• shipping costs
• political stability
• language barriers
• Infrastructure
• compliance
• Canada has imported CA$13.14 billion worth of apparel in 2017, up from
CA$10.5 billion in 2013 (Trade Data Online)

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Canada’s Sourcing from Developing Countries
• Of the top 10 exporters of apparel to Canada; China, Bangladesh,
Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Sri Lanka accounted for
about CA$9.9 billion (76%) of the total world exports of about CA$13 billion
• The increase in imports in this industry is displacing demand for domestically
manufactured goods, as imports are considerably cheaper due to lower
labour costs in developing countries exporting apparel
• At the industry level, apparel imports are expected to make up 88.7% of
domestic demand

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Total Canadian Imports of Apparel

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Canada’s Sourcing from Developing Countries
• Of the top 10 exporters of apparel to Canada; China, Bangladesh, Cambodia,
Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Sri Lanka accounted for about CA$9.9
billion (76%) of the total world exports of about CA$13 billion
• The increase in imports in this industry is displacing demand for domestically
manufactured goods, as imports are considerably cheaper due to lower labour
costs in developing countries exporting apparel
• At the industry level, apparel imports are expected to make up 88.7% of domestic
demand

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About TFO Canada
• Canadian apparel manufacturing’s gross
domestic product (GDP) was CA$1.1 billion
in 2015, a contraction from 2011 when GDP
was $1.3 billion (ISEDC 2017).
• Since the removal of apparel import tariffs
on less-developed nations in 2003, the
domestic Canadian industry has been in
decline (IBISWorld 2015, 2016).

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TFO Canada’s Support

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ATSC 2017 – Artisan Hub
• Capacity building and market access
support to 60 companies from 8 Least
Developed Countries
• Specialty fabrics and textiles
• Handwoven cotton (Ethiopia) - Barkcloth
(Uganda)
• Raffia (Madagascar) - Mohair
(Lesotho)
• Market entry Studies
• Partnership with IDRC for research on
participating countries’ export
capacity and website development.
www.artisanhub.ca

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ATSC 2017 – Artisan Hub
• In-country assessment and final selection
of 60 SMEs
• Market potential test and final selection
• 3 Roadshows showcasing 400
samples in Montreal, Toronto and
Vancouver
• Trade mission support
• - 30 companies selected to attend
Apparel and Textile Sourcing Canada
trade show, 6 with Fair Trade
Certification (24 women-led)
• - Over $CA 150,000 in sales so far
www.artisanhub.ca

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ATSC 2018: Canada-Indonesia Trade and Private
Sector Assistance
• Project Name: Canada- Indonesia Trade and Private Sector Assistance (TPSA)
• Funding Partner: Conference Board of Canada (project funded by Global Affairs
Canada)
• Objective: Achieving higher sustainable economic growth and reduced poverty in
Indonesia as a result of increased trade and investment between Indonesia and
Canada.
• Products: Men and Women’s clothing, casual wear, ladies’ blouses and dresses
• Booths: 342, 344, 243 and 245

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Indonesian Companies

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ATSC 2018: Canada-Ukraine Trade and Investment
Support
• Project Name: Canada-Ukraine Trade and Investment Support (CUTIS)
• Funding Partner: Conference Board of Canada (project funded by Global Affairs
Canada)
• Objective: Reduce poverty and increase sustainable economic growth in Ukraine
through the expansion of Ukrainian exports to Canada and encouraging Canadian
investment in Ukraine
• Booths: 652, 650, 646, 551, 547, 553, 549

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Ukrainian Companies and Products
• Andre TAN offers ready-to-wear house labels Atelier and Andre TAN Plus women’s clothing.
• Annafoxy with the innovative use of extroverted prints decisively tech wear meets lifestyle.
• Berserk Sport is ready to knock you out with contemporary high quality, easy care-easy wear
sport and casual pieces.
• Bukvica’s design capacities, produce casual-T’s and comfy hoodies, campus casual accessories.
• RITO, the ultimate knitwear design house offers a full wardrobe that suits every taste from basics
to runway hits with complex textured crochet work.
• Rubizhansk hosiery, has everyone wrapped in comfort including the business professional, the
serious athlete or the urbane street-style client.
• SohoChic is a brand of fashionable women’s clothing for girls who know that style is not just
clothes.

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Ukrainian Companies

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” These are beautiful designs, with great and vibrant colours.
There is a good market for mohair in the fair trade business.”
- ATSC 2017 Buyer Feedback on Juteland Products, Bangladesh

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RESOURCES
Steve Tipman, Executive Director
TFO Canada
www.tfocanada.ca/home.php
2018 Seminars
See More Seminars from the
ATSC 2018 Show:
ApparelTextileSourcing.com/
Canada/Sessions
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23. First Link In Your Supply Chain
Sourcing | Wholesale | B2B eCommerce
www.ApparelTextileSourcing.com