Updated June 2026 · Verified against Province of Manitoba — Trade and Investment guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Reimbursement Est. 2010
Grant Provincial Active

Incoming Buyer Program (IBP) — Manitoba

Province of Manitoba — Trade and Investment
Maximum Funding
Up to $5,000
Continuous intake until program funds are fully committed
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
50%
Incoming Buyer Program (IBP) — Manitoba provides Up to $5,000 per project (50% of eligible expenses). Reimbursement program for Manitoba small and medium-sized businesses that invite qualified international buyers to visit and explore potential procurement relationships. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Eligibility & Details

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Program Description

Reimbursement program for Manitoba small and medium-sized businesses that invite qualified international buyers to visit and explore potential procurement relationships. Manitoba pays up to 50% of economy airfare and local accommodation costs for the buyer's visit, to a maximum of $5,000 per project. The program is exclusively for export-ready Manitoba SMEs that manufacture or produce exportable products or services, and is designed to convert trade leads into active supplier relationships with international distributors, agents, or dealers.

Eligibility Requirements

  • For-profit small or medium-sized enterprise (under 500 employees) — NPOs and government entities are NOT eligible
  • Permanently and primarily established in Manitoba
  • More than half of the workforce currently resides in Manitoba
  • Produces or manufactures exportable products or services
  • Annual sales revenue between $30,000 and $50,000,000
  • Registered and in good standing with Manitoba Companies Office (active Business Number)
  • Not in arrears for taxes owing to Manitoba and not in receivership
  • Not a publicly traded company
  • Buyer must be an international for-profit company — distributors, agents, dealers, importers, or wholesalers
  • Buyer visit must be the buyer's first visit to Manitoba relating to the applicant company
  • Buyer must be a decision-maker (Director, Manager, CEO, VP or equivalent)
  • Minimum applicant expense of $2,000 related to the buyer visit
  • Must be a for-profit SME (under 500 employees). Minimum annual sales revenue $30,000; maximum $50M. Must produce or manufacture an exportable product/service in Manitoba. Must have 50%+ of workforce in Manitoba. Must be registered in good standing with Manitoba Companies Office. Ineligible: publicly traded companies, nonprofits, government employees, Crown corporations, municipalities, educational institutions, external consultants/brokers. This is the first visit to Manitoba from the specific international buyer — repeat buyer visits not eligible.
Provinces
Industries
All
Business Stage
Growth Established Expansion

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $5,000 per project (50% of eligible expenses)
Type
Grant
Level
Provincial
Co-Funding
Up to 50% of eligible costs
Deadline
Continuous intake until program funds are fully committed

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Good
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win IBP

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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

Apply before the buyer arrives — retroactive applications are not accepted and the program is first-come, first-served within the fiscal year (2025/26 intake closed mid-year).

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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Confirm eligibility before inviting the buyer Verify your company meets all eligibility requirements: registered Manitoba SME (under 500 employees), annual sales $30K–$50M, majority Manitoba workforce, no tax arrears, not publicly traded. Confirm the proposed buyer is an international for-profit distributor, agent, dealer, importer, or wholesaler who has not previously visited Manitoba in relation to your company, and who holds a genuine decision-making title.

Required Documents 7

Completed IBP application form (eForm from Manitoba Export Support Program)
Documentation of company registration and good standing (Manitoba Companies Office)

Eligible Expenses 2

Ineligible Expenses 8

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

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Clawback Risk

Low Risk

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How IBP Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Incoming Buyer Program (IBP) — Manitoba Up to $5,000 Easy Reimbursement Continuous intake until...
Manitoba Export Development Program (... up to $5,000 Easy Reimbursement Continuous intake...
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Applications accepted...
Trade Commissioner Service – Export S... Advisory services (non-financial) Easy Not Applicable Ongoing
PrairiesCan (Prairies Economic Develo... Varies Hard Reimbursement Ongoing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about IBP

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Can sole proprietors apply?
Yes, sole proprietors qualify if they meet all other eligibility criteria (e.g., revenue between $30K–$50M, registered in Manitoba, and meet workforce residency requirements).
What's the typical award amount?
Most applicants receive $3,000–$5,000 per buyer visit (50% of eligible costs), with the maximum capped at $5,000. Total costs must be $6,000–$10,000 to qualify.
When are decisions made?
Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis within the fiscal year. The 2026/27 intake is open now (covering April 2026–March 2027), with applications accepted starting January 1.
Why do applications fail?
Common rejections: buyer has visited before, applicant revenue outside $30K–$50M range, retroactive applications, or buyer not a decision-maker at a distributor/importer.
Do I need to pay upfront?
Yes, you must pay all eligible expenses (airfare, accommodation) directly before applying for reimbursement. Program covers 50% of costs up to $5,000.

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