“Miscommunication could have a direct impact on businesses’ expansion and profitability... An unsuccessful interaction with a customer could end a relationship.”

Forbes Insights report

International trade requires communication to ensure business across borders is effectively undertaken. The global interconnected economic landscape has opened doors to a vast global market. With a wider market, one of the key obstacles limiting businesses’ expansion internationally is the language barrier which creates insurmountable challenges for businesses’ overseas operations. Language barrier has also been identified as one of the main reasons Canadian companies do not export beyond the United States.

Language barriers have been one of the biggest hurdles for Canadian small businesses, particularly women-led businesses expanding into foreign markets. Overcoming this, is key to new business opportunities. While English is considered the lingua franca of business, English as a business language accounts for only around 30% of world GDP and is likely set to decline in proportion to other business languages, according to the International Monetary Fund data. For example, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages shows that one in four American employers lost business due to lack of language skills, while the US Committee on Economic Development suggests that American businesses lose more than US$2 billion a year due to cultural misunderstandings.

In today’s global economy, to make maximum impact and thrive abroad, it is essential to understand how businesses are conducted overseas. Learning a second language, relevant to your business operations, equips you with the knowledge that is needed to make a positive impact and earn the trust and esteem of your customers, partners and peers.

Join us to discuss the importance and benefits of speaking a foreign language when developing export plans. You will learn how to get by in the most common communication situations when participating in a Trade Mission in a Spanish- speaking country, and you will get tips on accessing and doing business in Hispanic markets. An interactive session will test your knowledge on cultural and communication variations in the different Hispanic export markets.

SPEAKERS

Alma Farias - Managing Director, Trade Partners

Catherine Jodar - Founder & Director- Language Advantage Inc.

Lyse Moreau - President, International Sew Right

Fabiola Sicard - Area Director Mexico, Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

This is a complimentary webinar for all.

*You will receive the webinar link the morning of the session – please check your junkmail box if you do not receive it*

During our events, photos and/or videos may be taken which may be published in various media for the purposes of documentation, outreach and public relations activities. You have the right at any time to point out to the photographer or videographer that you do not want to be photographed or filmed.