Export Development Canada: Pioneering a Sustainable and Prosperous Future

Export Development Canada: Pioneering a Sustainable and Prosperous Future
Export Development Canada (EDC), a leading Crown corporation, is spearheading the advancement of Canadian businesses into a future that is both sustainable and prosperous, thanks to cloud-based solutions.
EDC's Mission to Support Canadian Enterprises
EDC, committed to aiding Canadian enterprises of varying sizes in tackling global business challenges, is driving innovation and global competitiveness amongst these businesses. This is achieved through a focus on robust sustainability practices. Central to its corporate strategy is the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, underpinned by its investment in cutting-edge digital infrastructure through Microsoft Azure.
The Role of ESG Practices in Business Resilience
The organization's support for Canadian businesses in enhancing their ESG practices not only boosts their resilience and global investment appeal but also fuels Canada's export trade growth. Victor Diamond, Vice President of Technology Operations and Services at EDC, highlights the importance of this approach.
EDC’s Impact on Canadian Companies
As the national export credit agency, EDC plays a pivotal role in empowering Canadian companies to make significant impacts both domestically and internationally, particularly in the context of the challenging realities of climate change. It provides the financial tools and expertise needed for these companies to confidently venture into new markets, minimizing financial risks and fostering growth from local to global stages.
Sustainable Business as EDC’s Core Mission
At the heart of EDC's mission is a deep-seated commitment to sustainable and responsible business. The corporation adopts a holistic ESG perspective in all its business operations. According to Victor Diamond, EDC regards strong ESG practices as essential not only for risk mitigation but also as key drivers of competitive advantage in the international market.
Strategies for Global Export Growth
Despite a decline in Canada's share of global exports over the past decade, EDC sees an opportunity to reverse this trend through strategic leadership in climate change and sustainability. As expressed in its 2050 net-zero commitment, EDC actively supports Canada’s trade-based economy by assisting its customers in understanding and addressing ESG risks, seizing opportunities, and innovating to reduce emissions and environmental impacts.
Digital Transformation: A Pillar of EDC’s Strategy
A key element of EDC’s strategy is its investment in IT infrastructure to support its ESG objectives and aid Canadian businesses. The organization aims to significantly reduce its operational carbon footprint, and a major step in this direction is its digital transformation, anchored on Microsoft Azure Cloud Services. According to Diamond, Azure is essential for EDC’s sustainability strategy, offering new digital capabilities and supporting the organization’s transformation journey.
Azure Cloud Services at the Heart of EDC’s Transformation
EDC's transformation also includes transitioning most of its internal data center capacity to the Azure cloud platform, a move expected to have a substantial impact on reducing its power consumption. The company aims to track its carbon impact goals using tools like Microsoft Emissions Impact Dashboard.
Advancing Sustainable Business Practices
EDC is also exploring ways to leverage Microsoft technology to assist its customers, potentially using Azure Databricks to track ESG metrics and support more sustainable business decisions. A key focus for EDC is supporting Canada’s clean technology sector, using Azure-driven insights to develop strategies that accelerate support for this sector and encourage decarbonization among Canadian companies.
EDC: A Leader in the Low-Carbon Economy Transition
In its role as a financial Crown corporation, EDC is dedicated to promoting the transition to a low-carbon economy. This commitment includes reducing its own carbon footprint and helping Canadian businesses become more competitive through strong ESG practices. Diamond believes that Azure is a crucial component of EDC’s digital toolbox, integral to the organization’s ongoing digital transformation.