About the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade - What We Do

The goal of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade is straightforward: to promote economic growth.

Faced with an increasingly competitive global marketplace, we aim to accomplish this by creating a culture of innovation, promoting investment and expanding exports to world markets.

We act as a catalyst for innovation through:

• research and development funding partnerships;
• advisory services to help small and medium-sized enterprises grow;
• programs to encourage young people to explore careers in science or start their own businesses.

We promote investment in the province by:

• marketing Ontario to the world as a preferred business location;
• helping our regional economies plan and invest for strategic growth;
• investing in our greatest resource - our people - through strategic skills development partnerships.

We encourage trade development by:

• helping Ontario exporters increase their international market opportunities;
• providing export education, counseling and market intelligence;
• showcasing Ontario's products and services abroad.