I think this committee really loves data, so let me just give you a couple of data points.
Twelve hundred large companies are responsible for 60% of Canada's merchandise exports. What that means is that when Paul and policy officials are recommending really key strategic sequencing of policy, commercial support and additional direct support, we often have to start with the key anchor companies in those ecosystems.
That's why the actions to protect our largest steel and aluminum manufacturing companies and with the strategic innovation fund have been so critical. I say this as someone born and raised in Hamilton and whose grandfather made a great blue-collar wage at Stelco. I couldn't be more proud of my hometown.
We start there. We then move to 1,200 small and medium-sized enterprises —and this is really fascinating—responsible for almost 30% of our merchandise exports. This next 29.8% tranche of our exports is in the hands of 1,200 incredible growth companies. That means that we have about 42,000 small businesses responsible for the last 10%.
What we want to do is to convert that group, that addressable market of SMEs, who are already exporting, but the vast majority only to one market, the U.S., and only a handful of products I think what you see in front of you is a team dedicated to working with existing companies and saying, “How can we help you innovate, create new products, find new markets, and take better risks. What are the tools you are missing?”
I think it's been a good dialogue today. Each one of us invites ongoing referrals from this committee, for companies when they tell you what they need. Again, I think the other key message here is that there's no wrong door. Whether you come in through a digital service, through a trade commissioner globally or meet us in one of the regional offices of EDC, BDC or the Government of Canada, we will direct that company to the best market.
My last stylized point is that we have seen an increase in our Asian offices—Tokyo, Singapore, Taiwan, Shanghai, Beijing. We have seen foot traffic grow in those markets by more than 50%. That means that Canadian companies are not wasting, shall we say, a crisis. But framed more positively, they're seeing an opportunity to sell Canada to the world. That's our mission.