APF Canada Review Highlights Impact of Women's Trade Program

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) has released a seven-year review of its Women’s Business Mission Series and related programs, highlighting their role in supporting women-led businesses and trade diversification across the Indo-Pacific. The review, titled Program Review: How APF Canada Advances Trade Diversification Through Women-Led Entrepreneurship, covers activities from 2019 through April 2026.

The initiative began as a pilot project in 2019 and has received support from the Government of Canada’s Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) since 2020. Over the period, the program organized 10 international trade missions and four investment-focused events across the Indo-Pacific, connecting Canadian women entrepreneurs with international markets and business opportunities.

As of April 2026, the programs had supported 189 women entrepreneurs from across Canada. According to self-reported figures, participating businesses generated $49.8 million in commercial outcomes, while 168 active deals were being developed through the program’s international business connections.

Key Highlights:

• The program supported 189 women entrepreneurs and generated $49.8 million in commercial outcomes
• It organized 10 trade missions and four investment events across the Indo-Pacific
• The report highlights Indigenous entrepreneurship and long-term trade connections as future priorities

"This report confirms what we've seen mission after mission: when Canadian women entrepreneurs are provided with curated introductions, sustained support, and a seat at the table in priority Indo-Pacific markets, they close deals," said Christine Nakamura, APF Canada's Vice-President, Central Canada Office, and mission lead.

"What began as a single pilot trade mission to Japan has grown into an integrated model spanning trade, investment, and ecosystem-building – and the results not only highlight the dynamism of our women entrepreneurs but provide clear evidence that Canada’s economic diversification is a shared imperative."

The report stresses the increasing importance of investment-oriented programing, introduced in 2023 via an annual venture capital and private equity summit in Singapore, which has contributed to the evolution of the program from solely export market expansion to capital attraction.

It also highlights that the face-to-face experience is a key factor, as almost 99 per cent of confirmed deal value has been generated through in-person missions, emphasising the need for relationship-based business development for SMEs entering new markets.

One of the standout features in the program review report is the Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs Mission: Indigenous Meeting on Pacific and Arctic Climate and Trade (IMPACT) which focuses specifically on Indigenous women entrepreneurs and their businesses. IMPACT, which took place near the edges of Osaka Expo 2025, with connections to Indigenous leaders in Japan, Taiwan, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand, provided preliminary qualitative findings and early glimpse into the area where Indigenous women's leadership intersects with trade, climate policy and cultural diplomacy, pointing toward a shift in APF Canada's inclusive trade programming.

"IMPACT showed us that Indigenous entrepreneurship can't be fully understood through conventional market metrics alone," said Dr. A.W. Lee, APF Canada’s Director of Inclusive International Trade. "It integrates economic activity with cultural continuity and environmental stewardship, and it's reshaping how we think about inclusive trade policy moving forward, both in Canada and across the Indo-Pacific."

The report also outlines the development of the Canadian Women's International Network (CanWIN) which was created from the mission series to ensure delegates stay connected beyond their mission and maximize the value of each mission beyond their last day. CanWIN has expanded to 297 members as of July 2026, and has hosted roundtables, symposia and summits in cities around Canada and Asia such as Vancouver, Whitehorse, Montreal, Calgary, Toronto, St. John's, Tokyo, Taipei, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Seoul, and Manila.

In the future, the report recommends that policy and program design incorporate a holistic approach to trade and investment, acknowledge that commercial results in the Indo Pacific take a minimum of 12 to 36 months to become reality, and systematically integrate Indigenous perspectives into policy and program approaches to trade, economics and climate change.