What Commerce International Québec does

Commerce International Québec (CIQ), founded in March 2001, is a private network organization headquartered in Québec City that coordinates 18 regional export promotion organizations (ORPEX) covering all 17 administrative regions of Quebec. Its core function is to connect Quebec small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with localized export expertise, providing services including export diagnostics, international commercialization planning, consulting, specialized training, and commercial missions. The organization also runs branded sub-programs such as MercadOr Québec (annual export awards), R.I.S.E. (annual international export conference), the ALÉGO market diversification program, and — most recently — Opération Prospérité Québec, a pan-regional mobilization launched in February 2025 to help SMEs diversify markets amid new Canada-US trade barriers.

The network distributes more than 65 export experts across the province, with companies routed to their regional ORPEX via postal-code lookup on ciquebec.ca. CIQ does not own proprietary technology platforms; its primary "product" is structured human advisory delivered through a continuum of services from emerging exporters through experienced multi-market operators. Advanced strategic consulting is delivered jointly with Investissement Québec International (IQI), a core partner that provides market intelligence and business matching for companies establishing international presence.

CIQ's business model is government-funded rather than commercial. Services to SMEs are free of charge, financed through Quebec provincial and Canadian federal programs (CanExport, PSCE and related initiatives). The organization has no disclosed pricing, no commercial transactions, and no venture or equity funding. Annual operational reach includes more than 2,000 Quebec SMEs assisted and approximately 4,040 interventions per year. Leadership is a volunteer board led by President Bonnet Huor (note: input sources conflict — one source lists "CAROLE DOUSSIN" as president, while the management roster records Bonnet Huor; the more detailed governance source is treated as primary).

Name

Commerce International Québec

Legal name

Commerce International Québec

Website

https://ciquebec.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Commerce International Québec is a government-funded network coordinating 18 regional export promotion organizations (ORPEX) across Quebec's 17 administrative regions, providing free export advisory, training, and market diversification services to Quebec small and medium-sized enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Export Trade Promotion Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Trade & E-Commerce Development (BPADAMAL)

Keywords

• Export consulting services
• Trade promotion services
• SME export support
• Market diversification programs
• Export training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Montréal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Commerce International Québec and its ORPEX network are funded by provincial (Quebec) and federal (Canada) government programs to provide free export support services to Quebec SMEs. Revenue comes from government grants and program funding rather than commercial activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Commerce International Québec is the coordinating network for 18 regional export promotion organizations (ORPEX) serving Quebec SMEs across all 17 administrative regions. It delivers export advisory services, international commercialization plans, export diagnostics, training programs, and commercial missions, supported by a directory of 65+ regional experts and a partnership with Investissement Québec International for advanced market intelligence and strategic consulting.

Product overview

Commerce International Québec operates as a network of 17 regional export promotion organizations (ORPEX) providing a unified service framework for Quebec SMEs. The core offering consists of advisory services including export diagnostics, international commercialization planning, training programs, and commercial missions. Key branded initiatives include MercadOr Québec (annual export awards), R.I.S.E. (annual international export conference), and Opération Prospérité Québec (market diversification initiative). The organization coordinates through a directory of 65+ regional experts and partners with Investissement Québec International for advanced export support. Services are structured across a continuum from emerging exporters through established exporters, with specialized programs like ALÉGO for market diversification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MercadOr Québec: The premier export award competition recognizing Québec exporting SMEs for their innovation, resilience, and international success. Now in its 6th edition as of 2027.
• R.I.S.E. (Rencontre Internationale Sur l'Export)
• Opération Prospérité Québec

Products and services

• Services aux entreprises (Services for Entrepreneurs) Export advisory and support services including international commercialization plans, consulting services, export diagnostics, and commercial missions to help Quebec SMEs develop markets outside Quebec. Available to companies at all stages of export readiness, from those beginning international activities to experienced exporters diversifying markets.
• Formations et activités (Training and Activities) Educational programs covering export basics, customs and logistics, digital commerce, international market strategies, and responsible business practices, designed to develop the competencies Quebec SMEs need to diversify activities outside Quebec.
• Répertoire ORPEX (Expert Directory) Directory service allowing Quebec businesses to find regional export experts by entering their company's postal code, connecting them with the appropriate regional ORPEX organization across Quebec's 17 administrative regions.
• MercadOr Québec (Export Awards Program) Annual awards program with regional and provincial competitions celebrating Quebec exporting companies for success across categories including New Exporter, Market Diversification, Sustained Export Growth, Export Leader, and Exporter of the Year.
• R.I.S.E. (Rencontre Internationale Sur l'Export) Annual international export conference featuring four thematic zones (Impact, Connexion, Résonance, Diversification) with conferences, panels, workshops, B2B meetings, and expert consultations for Quebec exporters and international development stakeholders.
• Opération Prospérité Québec Pan-regional initiative providing strategic solutions, advisory services, and access to government funding programs to help Quebec exporters diversify their markets within Canada and internationally.
• Programme ALÉGO (Market Diversification Program) Market diversification program designed to help Quebec SMEs expand into new export markets outside Quebec and Canada.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 companies assisted annually
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Quebec Government (Gouvernement du Québec)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2001The Quebec Government (through the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy) co-founded the ORPEX network and provides ongoing funding and support for export promotion activities across Quebec. CIQ represents ORPEX interests at the provincial level.
• Government of Canada (Gouvernement du Canada)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2001The federal government initiated the first ORPEX organizations in the 1990s and continues to provide funding and programs (such as CanExport) that support Quebec SME export activities. CIQ works with federal agencies on trade promotion.
• Investissement Québec International (IQI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIQI is a key strategic partner providing advanced export services complementing ORPEX offerings. Services include specialized market intelligence, business matching for clients/partners, and strategic consulting for companies establishing commercial presence abroad. The combined ORPEX-IQI coverage spans all stages of export development.
• 18 ORPEX Regional OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommerce International Québec is the network that brings together 18 regional export promotion organizations (ORPEX) covering all 17 administrative regions of Quebec. Members include: 48e Nord International (Abitibi-Témiscamingue), Carrefour Québec international (Centre-du-Québec, Estrie, Mauricie), Commerce International Côte-Nord, Commerce International Québec Montérégie-Ouest, DEL (Agglomération de Longueuil), DPME (Chaudière-Appalaches), Excellence industrielle Saint-Laurent (Montréal Ouest), Expansion PME (Montérégie-Est), Export Outaouais, GIMXPORT (Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine), Innov & Export PME (Bas-Saint-Laurent), Lanaudière International, Laurentides International, Laval Économique, Québec International (Capitale-Nationale), SERDEX International (Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean), Services aux entreprises CCMM (Montréal métropolitain), and CCEM (Est de Montréal).
• MercadOr Québec Sponsors and PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors for MercadOr Québec awards include: Official Presenters (Desjardins, Quebec Government); Gold Partners (Global Affairs Canada, Investissement Québec, Port of Montreal); Silver Partners (EDC, Globe International); Bronze Partners (ABSAROKA IP); and Media Partners (CORIM, Cargo Montreal).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Forum for International Trade Training (FITT): Canadian not-for-profit providing trade training and certification (CITP designation). Directly comparable to CIQ's training leg, with FIITT focused on educational credentials and CIQ on regional export advisory.
• Investissement Québec International (IQI): Quebec's government agency dedicated to attracting foreign investment and supporting Quebec firms abroad. CIQ is a direct strategic partner of IQI; both serve Quebec export development but IQI focuses on advanced strategic consulting while CIQ handles first-line SME outreach.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME): Canada's largest industry association representing manufacturers and exporters nationally. Comparable to CIQ as a trade-promotion and export-advocacy organization, but operates at a federal/national scale rather than Quebec-provincial scope.
• BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada): Federal Crown corporation providing financing, advisory, and growth capital to Canadian SMEs. Has an export-readiness advisory practice that overlaps with CIQ's training and consulting offerings, though BDC's mandate and tooling are broader.
• EDC (Export Development Canada): Canada's export credit agency providing financing, insurance, and market knowledge to Canadian exporters. EDC is a MercadOr Gold Partner and a natural overlap with CIQ's export-promotion mission, though EDC operates federally and includes financial instruments CIQ does not offer.
• Global Affairs Canada / Trade Commissioner Service: Federal government service that provides Canadian businesses with market intelligence, contacts, and on-the-ground support abroad. Overlaps with CIQ's mandate of supporting SME export development, but operates internationally and federally rather than regionally.

Regional players

• World Trade Center Montréal: Network member providing trade services, events, and business connections to Quebec-based companies engaged in international trade. Comparable to a single ORPEX in scope and services, operating in the same Quebec geography.
• Ontario Trade and Investment Office: Province-level export promotion body analogous to CIQ but serving Ontario rather than Quebec. Useful as a jurisdictional peer for understanding how comparable Canadian provinces structure SME export support.

Emerging players

• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN): EU-wide network helping SMEs find international partners and access innovation support. Comparable international analogue to CIQ's network-of-regional-offices model, but operates across European jurisdictions rather than a single province.
• Plug and Play Trade Tech: Innovation accelerator and ecosystem that includes trade-tech and cross-border commerce programs. Comparable to CIQ as an emerging alternative channel for SME export acceleration, but commercial and digital rather than government-funded.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Commerce International Québec