Updated July 2026 · Verified against Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP) guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Reimbursement
Grant Provincial Active

STEP — Market Diversification Program (MDP)

Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP)
Maximum Funding
By STEP membership tier: Non-member 2 applications/yr to...
Ongoing — apply 45 days before each trade activity until March 31, 2028
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
50%
STEP — Market Diversification Program (MDP) provides up to By STEP membership tier: Non-member 2 applications/yr to $6,000; Pre-Market member 1 application/yr to $2,500; Regular member 3 applications/yr to $8,000; Premium member 4 applications/yr to $10,000. Reimbursement is 50% of eligible costs for an initial visit to a new market, or 30% for a return visit within 24 months with minimal/no sales or for non-exhibiting participation in a STEP-led mission. Minimum total expense of $1,000 per application. STEP's Market Diversification Program (MDP) reimburses Saskatchewan exporters 50% of eligible costs for initial market visits and trade show participation in non-U.S. international markets, and 30% for return visits within 24 months where minimal or no sales occurred, or for participating without exhibiting in a STEP-led mission with a trade show component. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

STEP's Market Diversification Program (MDP) reimburses Saskatchewan exporters 50% of eligible costs for initial market visits and trade show participation in non-U.S. international markets, and 30% for return visits within 24 months where minimal or no sales occurred, or for participating without exhibiting in a STEP-led mission with a trade show component. Annual caps and application counts run by membership tier: non-members 2 applications to $6,000; Pre-Market members 1 application to $2,500; Regular members 3 applications to $8,000; Premium members 4 applications to $10,000. Each application must include a minimum total expense of $1,000. Products or services must have at least 50% Saskatchewan content, and the program explicitly excludes U.S. activities — making it a forced diversification incentive for SK SMEs.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Incorporated business, partnership or proprietorship based in Saskatchewan and registered federally or provincially for a minimum of two years — sole proprietorships and partnerships are expressly eligible
  • Minimum annual sales of $25,000
  • Must produce an exportable product or service with at least 50% Saskatchewan content
  • Activity must be in a new international market OR a market where the company has had no or minimal sales in the past 24 months
  • Each application must include a minimum total expense of $1,000
  • Non-STEP members may apply only if exhibiting in a new market, and are not eligible to participate in STEP-led trade missions
  • STEP Pre-Market members are eligible for funding solely for participation in trade events — expenses related to trade show booths or exhibiting are not covered
  • Non-government, non-non-profit, non-broker, non-agent, non-distributor (producers only)
  • Maximum 2 representatives' costs reimbursed per event, and all representatives must be full-time employees
  • All invoices must be billed directly to the approved company or to the participating employees
  • Must demonstrate clear economic benefit to Saskatchewan
Provinces
Saskatchewan
Industries
Manufacturing Agriculture Technology Food Beverage Natural Resources
Business Stage
Growth Expansion Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
By STEP membership tier: Non-member 2 applications/yr to $6,000; Pre-Market member 1 application/yr to $2,500; Regular member 3 applications/yr to $8,000; Premium member 4 applications/yr to $10,000. Reimbursement is 50% of eligible costs for an initial visit to a new market, or 30% for a return visit within 24 months with minimal/no sales or for non-exhibiting participation in a STEP-led mission. Minimum total expense of $1,000 per application.
Type
Grant
Level
Provincial
Co-Funding
Up to 50% of eligible costs
Deadline
Ongoing — apply 45 days before each trade activity until March 31, 2028

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Low
Deadline
Mar 31, 2028
Approval
Entitlement
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win MDP

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How to Win

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

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Insider Tip

Apply at least 45 days before your trade show — late applications are rejected with no exceptions. The 50% rate applies to an initial visit to a NEW market; a return visit within 24 months where minimal or no sales occurred, or attending a STEP-led mission WITHOUT exhibiting, drops you to 30% — exhibiting on a STEP-led mission to a new market is still 50%. Membership changes what you can do, not just how much: non-members can only apply if they are exhibiting in a new market and cannot join STEP-led missions, and Pre-Market members cannot claim booth or exhibiting costs at all. Premium membership ($595/year) unlocks 4 applications and a $10,000 cap — if you attend 3+ international events annually, the math strongly favours it. Every claim needs at least $1,000 in total expenses, only full-time employees count toward the 2 covered representatives, and invoices must be billed directly to the company or those employees. Economy airfare is required; business class is ineligible even if it's the cheapest option on a route.

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Success Profile

A Saskatchewan manufacturer, agri-food producer, or technology company with products/services containing at least 50% Saskatchewan content, operating for 2+ years, with annual sales above $25,000, seeking to enter new non-U.S. international markets via trade shows or in-market visits. Ideal candidates have a clear export product ready for international sale, a target market strategy, and the internal capacity to follow up on trade show leads.

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Evaluation Criteria

Non-competitive eligibility review. STEP confirms the application meets all criteria: registered (incorporated, partnership or proprietorship) for a minimum of two years, $25,000 annual sales minimum, 50% Saskatchewan content, non-U.S. market focus, activity is in a new or minimal-sales market (for the 50% rate), minimum $1,000 in total expenses, membership-tier conditions, and submission 45+ days before the activity. No scoring — all qualifying applications are approved until the tier's annual cap or application count is reached.

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Application Playbook

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

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Application Steps

1 Confirm eligibility and plan your activity Verify your business meets the 2-year, $25,000 revenue, and 50% Saskatchewan content criteria. Confirm the target market is non-U.S. and qualifies as a new or minimal-sales market (for the 50% rate). Select a trade show or market visit at least 45 days in the future.
2 Submit application 45+ days before the activity Download the MDP application form from sasktrade.com, complete it with the activity details, eligible expenses estimate, and target market information, and email it to [email protected] at least 45 days before the activity date.
3 Receive approval and attend the activity STEP reviews your application within 1-2 weeks. Upon approval, proceed with booking and attend the trade show or market visit. Keep all original receipts — economy class only.
4 Submit claim within 21 days of completion Within 21 days of the activity's end date, email [email protected] with: itemized invoices, bank or credit card statements proving payment, a detailed activity itinerary, and a completed STEP evaluation form.
5 Receive reimbursement STEP processes the complete claim and transfers reimbursement via EFT to the company's (not individual's) Canadian bank account within 4 weeks. Reimbursement is in Canadian dollars.

Required Documents 6

✓ Completed MDP application form (submitted 45+ days before activity)
✓ Trade show registration confirmation or mission itinerary
✓ Post-activity claim package: itemized invoices (airfare, hotel, ground transport, booth costs, shipping, interpretation)
✓ Proof of payment (bank statements or credit card statements)
✓ Detailed travel/activity itinerary
✓ Completed STEP evaluation form

Eligible Expenses 8

  • Economy airfare or mileage for up to 2 full-time employees
  • Hotel accommodations for up to 2 full-time employees (excluding incidentals)
  • Local ground transportation (excluding vehicle rentals paid with points)
  • Trade show booth space rental and registration fees (not available to Pre-Market members)
  • Standard booth furnishings (not available to Pre-Market members)
  • Booth material shipping costs
  • Translation of marketing materials
  • Accredited interpreter services (non-employee only)

Ineligible Expenses 12

  • Business class or first class airfare
  • Flights or accommodations purchased with loyalty points
  • Seat selection fees and travel insurance
  • Product or sample shipping
  • Printing of marketing materials (translation is eligible; printing is not)
  • Parking and vehicle rentals paid with points
  • Trade show sponsorships and memberships
  • U.S. market activities
  • Costs for representatives who are not full-time employees
  • Invoices not billed directly to the approved company or the participating employees
  • Booth and exhibiting costs for Pre-Market members
  • More than 2 employees' costs per event

Intake Periods

Continuous rolling intake — applications accepted on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the program period. Each application must be submitted at least 45 days before the eligible activity. Program runs April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028.

Deadline Notes

Rolling program — applications must be submitted at least 45 days before each eligible trade activity. Claims must be submitted within 21 days of activity completion. Activities must occur between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2028. Program ends March 31, 2028. Apply early in the fiscal year (April 1) to secure your allocation before the annual cap is reached.

Ineligible Organizations

  • Government entities and Crown corporations
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Brokers, agents, and distributors (producers only eligible)
  • Research institutions
  • Businesses operating for less than 2 years in Saskatchewan
  • Businesses with annual sales below $25,000
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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

CanExport SMEs STEP — Business Advisory Services Funding Program AgriMarketing Program (Agriculture Canada)
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

None Risk
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How MDP Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
STEP — Market Diversification Program... By STEP membership tier:... Easy Reimbursement Ongoing — apply 45 days...
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Applications accepted...
STEP — Business Advisory Services Fun... Up to $5,000 Easy Reimbursement Ongoing — first-come,...
AgriMarketing Program — Core Stream Up to $2,000,000 Moderate Reimbursement Applications accepted...
Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... Minimum $10 million contribution Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing — continuous...

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about MDP

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What is the difference between the 50% and 30% reimbursement rates?
50% applies to an initial visit to a NEW market. 30% applies to a return visit to a new market within 24 months where minimal or no sales have occurred, or to participation WITHOUT exhibiting in a STEP-led mission with a trade show component. Exhibiting on a STEP-led mission to a new market is still 50%.
Is STEP membership required to apply?
No, but it changes both your cap and what you can do. Non-members get up to 2 applications and $6,000, and may apply only if they are exhibiting in a new market — they cannot join STEP-led trade missions. Pre-Market members get 1 application and $2,500 and are funded solely for participation in trade events, with booth and exhibiting costs excluded. Regular members get 3 applications and $8,000; Premium members get 4 and $10,000. If you attend 3+ events annually, membership typically pays for itself.
Do sole proprietors qualify?
Yes. An incorporated business, a partnership or a proprietorship based in Saskatchewan qualifies, as long as it has been registered federally or provincially for at least two years. Incorporation is not required.
What qualifies as '50% Saskatchewan content'?
Your exportable product or service must have at least 50% of its content (by value or production) originating from Saskatchewan. This could be Saskatchewan-grown ingredients, Saskatchewan-manufactured components, or Saskatchewan-based labour and services. Document your content calculation in case STEP audits your claim.
Can I claim costs for both employees attending a trade show?
Yes — eligible costs for up to 2 representatives (airfare, hotel, ground transport) can be claimed per event, but all representatives must be full-time employees and all invoices must be billed directly to the approved company or to the participating employees. Costs for a 3rd or more people are ineligible.
Is there a minimum claim?
Yes — each application must include a minimum total expense of $1,000, which is roughly $500 back at the 50% rate.
What happens if I apply less than 45 days before the event?
Applications submitted fewer than 45 days before the activity are rejected with no exceptions. If your event is coming up quickly, contact [email protected] to discuss your situation, but late applications are not generally accepted.

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