World Trade Centre Winnipeg: A Key Partner for Entrepreneurs and Businesses in Manitoba

The World Trade Centre Winnipeg is an essential resource for entrepreneurs in Manitoba, whether they are seasoned professionals or just starting out in the business world. Offering a wide range of services and programs, the World Trade Centre Winnipeg supports businesses at every stage of their journey – from startup to exporting, importing, and local growth.

Services Tailored to Every Stage of Business Development

Natalie Courcelles Beaudry, Deputy Executive Director of the World Trade Centre Winnipeg, oversees two teams that work directly with clients: the Programming Team and the Advisory Team. The latter works one-on-one with businesses to guide them through their entrepreneurial journey.

Given that the World Trade Centre Winnipeg has a provincial mandate, the organization can begin supporting a Manitoba entrepreneur as soon as they consider starting a business.

“We provide dedicated support to these individuals,” explains Natalie Courcelles Beaudry. “We offer personalized programs and services to help launch a business in Manitoba, including identifying the type of business to establish and registering it.”

The World Trade Centre Winnipeg then continues to assist entrepreneurs through various key milestones: “We provide training for entrepreneurs who are doing their taxes for the first time or hiring staff, to help them understand the laws and regulations they need to comply with in Manitoba.”

Expertise in Exporting and Importing

The World Trade Centre Winnipeg particularly stands out for its support of businesses looking to export their products or services. “As soon as a business is identified as offering a product or service that could be exported – even if exporting isn’t a current priority – we initiate that conversation to open up more opportunities,” emphasizes Natalie Courcelles Beaudry.

Preparing for export is crucial. “One of our goals at the World Trade Centre is to increase the number of Manitoba businesses that successfully export. When a business explores a new market, there are several steps and things to know in order to reduce risks.”

The World Trade Centre Winnipeg also plays a role in the field of importing. “In today’s world, especially with governments imposing various restrictions, it’s important to understand which competitive markets we can turn to in order to replace certain elements in our production,” adds Natalie Courcelles Beaudry.

Networking and Market Research Services

Among the most sought-after services offered by the World Trade Centre Winnipeg are networking and market research.

“One of the biggest services we provide, regardless of where a business is on its journey, is connecting people,” says the deputy director. “We are very well connected here in Manitoba with organizations and service providers who can support entrepreneurs, whether they’re accountants, lawyers, or others.”

These connections go far beyond provincial borders. “We also have international connections through various networks we are part of, including the World Trade Centers Association. We also work closely with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service.”

Market research services are also in high demand because they can help businesses identify which markets to avoid or prioritize. “We conduct secondary market research for businesses,” explains Natalie Courcelles Beaudry. “This can range from understanding the demographic situation of a particular neighborhood in Winnipeg to creating lists of competitors in a specific foreign market.”

Making Services as Accessible as Possible

Most of the core services offered by the World Trade Centre Winnipeg are free, including individual consultations with advisors. For specialized services such as detailed market research, modest fees may apply.

Another useful resource for businesses seeking funding is the World Trade Centre Winnipeg’s recent partnership with Fundica, a free online tool that helps businesses discover available private and public financial resources.

“Additionally, the tool has been expanded to include nonprofit organizations,” notes Natalie Courcelles Beaudry.

Finally, an important part of the World Trade Centre Winnipeg’s mission is its commitment to bilingualism. “We offer all our services in both French and English. Our advisors can serve clients in French or English, and also in other languages such as Spanish, Italian, or Mandarin.

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The World Trade Centre Winnipeg is a proud partner of the 2025 edition of La Fosse aux lions! The 13th edition of this competition will take place on April 23, 2025, at the Théâtre Cercle Molière. Four finalist businesses will compete for the grand prize of $15,000.