Export Development Canada is expanding its presence in Europe with new representations in France and Sweden and plans to open an office in Poland in 2027, as the federal Crown corporation seeks to help Canadian businesses diversify exports and establish commercial relationships across the continent.
The expansion will add to EDC's existing presence in the United Kingdom, Germany and Türkiye, putting its teams closer to European buyers, investors, financial institutions and potential strategic partners.
The organization says the expanded network is intended to help Canadian companies identify business opportunities earlier, navigate local markets and develop commercial relationships.
"At a time when trade and investment ties between Canada and Europe are deepening, our expanded presence will help Canadian companies by building pragmatic relationships with like-minded trading partners across Europe," said Alison Nankivell, EDC's president and CEO. "EDC's unique strength lies in pairing financing and risk expertise with international relationships built over decades. Through this, we can help our customers seize this important moment to build their competitiveness and resilience."
European trade opportunities
EDC said Europe provides Canadian companies with access to more than 700 million consumers, along with preferential trade access through Canada's free trade agreements. Since the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement was provisionally applied in 2017, total trade between Canada and the EU has reached $178.6 billion in 2025.
The corporation's 2026 Trade Confidence Index found that 31 per cent of Canadian exporters plan to enter Europe within the next two years. EDC Economics projects Canada's export potential in the region could reach more than US$104 billion in goods and US$41 billion in services by 2035.
"Europe is one of Canada's most trusted partners, and last year EDC facilitated an estimated $16.2 billion in Canadian exports to the region, supporting more than 1,700 businesses," said Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade. "Trade between Canada and the EU has grown by more than 75% since CETA came into force, and EDC's expanded presence will build on that success as we work to double our non-U.S. exports. This means more Canadian businesses building lasting partnerships, reaching new customers and creating good-paying jobs for workers here at home."
EDC said its European teams will work with Canada's Trade Commissioner Service and other government partners, as well as industry and financial leaders. The teams will combine local market knowledge and relationships with EDC's financing and risk expertise to assist Canadian exporters.
The organization also pointed to changes taking place across Europe's economy, including investment in energy security, defence modernization, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing and supply-chain resilience. EDC said those areas are creating opportunities for Canadian companies with products, technologies and expertise sought by European buyers and investors.
Explore more about key sectors, market trends, and how EDC supports Canadian businesses expanding to Europe: Access EDC's 2026 Europe market intelligence guide for Canadian Businesses.
Canadian companies expanding in Europe
EDC highlighted several Canadian companies that have used its financing and other support to expand in European markets.
Toronto-based Northland Power, a global energy company with nearly four decades of experience developing and operating large-scale power projects, has expanded into Poland's offshore wind market. In June 2026, its 1.1-gigawatt Baltic Power project with ORLEN delivered its first offshore wind-generated electricity to Poland's national grid, with EDC project financing supporting the project.
Boralex, based in Kingsey Falls, Que., is a renewable energy company and France's largest independent onshore wind producer. EDC said it has provided working capital and project financing to the company since 2016, including financing for Limekiln, Boralex's first U.K. wind farm and one of the country's largest onshore wind projects.
Winnipeg-based Activate Games has also expanded its European operations. The company combines physical activity, immersive technology and interactive challenges and now has locations in the United Kingdom, France and Finland, with further expansion planned in Scandinavia and Germany. EDC worked with RBC to provide direct lending, loan guarantees and trade finance support as Activate expanded internationally.
Quebec City-based Laserax, which provides industrial laser solutions to automotive, clean energy, battery and manufacturing customers, expanded in Germany with EDC financing in 2026. The financing supported Laserax GmbH's acquisition of a majority stake in German laser specialist SLCR Lasertechnik GmbH.
EDC said the Laserax transaction was the company's second acquisition supported by the corporation and is expected to accelerate its European expansion and support its strategy of becoming a global leader in sustainable industrial laser applications.