Definition
Trade mission
In a trade mission, government officials and businesspeople from one country travel to another to promote trade between the two. Trade missions are usually organized by national or provincial governments. They are used to explore potential international business opportunities and can help create networks of buyers, agents, suppliers and key government contacts in a specific country or region.
In Canada, federal trade missions are led by the Minister of International Trade. They often focus on a specific sector or industry—such as information technology, oil and gas, defence and security.