sign in sign up
<<
Home , Kuwait City

The World is Open for Your Business.

Let the U.S. Commercial Service connect you to a world of opportunity.

Website: www.export.gov Minneapolis Office: 612-348-1638 Our Global Network of Trade Professionals Opens Doors that No One Else Can.

. The U.S. Commercial Service provides U.S. companies unparalleled access to business opportunities around the world. . As a U.S. Government agency, we have relationships with foreign government and business leaders in every key global market. . Our trade professionals provide expertise across most major industry sectors. . Every year, we help thousands of U.S. companies export goods and services worth billions of dollars. Our Network & What it can do for you

. Trade specialists in over 100 U.S. cities and 130 offices in 76 countries worldwide...

We can...

. Locate international buyers, distributors & agents . Provide expert help at every stage of the export process . Help you to enter new markets faster and more profitably U.S. Commercial Service International Office Locations

Algeria Germany Ireland Portugal Sweden Berlin Dublin Lisbon Stockholm Argentina Chengdu Dusseldorf Mexico Switzerland Buenos Aires Guangzhou Frankfurt Guadalajara Bern Shanghai Munich Tel Aviv Romania Shenyang Melbourne Ghana Italy Monterrey Bucharest Kaohsiung Sydney Colombia Accra Tijuana Russia Austria Bogota Greece Milan Moscow Costa Rica Rome Casablanca Vienna Athens St. Petersburg San Jose Belgium Guatemala Netherlands Vladivostok Croatia Nagoya The Hague Brussels Guatemala City Zagreb Honduras Osaka-Kobe New Zealand Dhahran Istanbul Brazil Sapporo Czech Republic Tegucigalpa Wellington Jeddah Izmir Belo Horizonte Prague Nigeria Ukraine Brasilia Denmark Hong Kong Lagos Senegal Kiev Recife Copenhagen Norway Dakar United Arab Rio de Janeiro Hungary Dominican Oslo Serbia & Budapest Emirates Sao Paulo Republic Almaty Montenegro Bulgaria Santo Domingo Kenya Belgrade Dubai Sofia Ecuador Ahmedabad Nairobi Karachi Bangalore Canada Quito Korea (South) Lahore Calcutta Singapore London Calgary Panama Slovak Republic Uruguay Montreal Chennai Alexandria Hyderabad Panama City Bratislava Montevideo Ottawa Mumbai Kuwait City Peru South Africa Venezuela Toronto El Salvador Lima Cape Town Caracas Vancouver San Salvador Johannesburg Chile Finland Spain Santiago Helsinki Poland Madrid Ho Chi Minh City France Warsaw Paris U.S. Commercial Service International Partner Offices

Albania Guinea-Bissau Sierra Leone Angola Iceland Slovenia Jamaica Kosovo Barbados Latvia Swaziland Benin Lesotho Tanzania Bolivia Liberia Togo Bosnia and Herzegovina Lithuania Trinidad and Tobago Botswana Luxembourg Burkina Faso Macedonia Uganda Burundi Madagascar Cameroon Malawi Zambia Cape Verde Mali Central African Republic Malta Chad Congo Kinshasa Mauritius Mozambique Ivory Coast Namibia Nicaragua Estonia Niger Ethiopia Gabon Palestinian Territory Gambia Rwanda Guinea Seychelles Services provided by the U.S. Commercial Service

. Consulting and Advocacy

. Market Intelligence

. Business Matchmaking

. Trade Events

. International Trade Community and Support

* Indicates a fee for service Consulting and Advocacy

Export Counseling

. Our trade specialists in the U.S. work directly with our team of experts overseas in getting you all the information and advice that you need. – Conference calls with global offices – Determine the best markets for your products & services – Evaluate international competitors – Identify and comply with legal and regulatory issues – Settle disputes – Learn about cultural issues and business protocol – Assist with export document requirements Market Intelligence

Market Intelligence

. Country Commercial Guides (CCG) - Leverage reports, prepared annually by U.S. Embassy staff, containing information on the business and economic situation of foreign countries and the political climate as it affects U.S. business and investments.

. Trade Data and Analysis - Obtain the latest annual and quarterly trade data by country, state, commodity, and year. - Find industry-specific trade data and analysis. - Get country-specific tariff and trade agreement information. . Customized Market Research* - Get specific answers to your specific international business questions.

* Cost vary depending on research preformed Business Matchmaking

International Company Profile (ICP)*

. Determine whether an overseas company or individual is a suitable partner: - Management details - Business activities - Product/service lines - Financial condition - Credit-worthiness - Trading experience - Market coverage - Business connections in the target country. - Lead time: 15 business days

* SME: $600; Large Company: $900 Business Matchmaking

International Partner Search (IPS)*

. You provide your marketing materials and background on your company

. Then we use our network of international contacts to interview potential partners and provide you with a list of pre-qualified candidates.

. Save valuable time and money by working only with pre-qualified international candidates that are interested in selling your products and services.

. Obtain high-quality market information on the marketability and sales potential for your products and services.

. Lead time: 30 business days

* SME: $550; Large Company: $1,400 Business Matchmaking

Gold Key Matching Service*

. Pre-screened appointment schedule arranged for you before you travel overseas

. Customized market and industry briefings with our local trade specialists

. Timely and relevant market research

. Post-meeting debriefing with our trade specialists and assistance in developing appropriate follow-up strategies

. Help with travel, accommodations, interpreter service, and clerical support

. Lead Time: 4-6 weeks SME: $700 first day, $300 each additional day; Large Company: $2,300 first day, $1,000 each additional day Trade Events

Single Company Promotion*

. The Single Company Promotion service offers support and event facilities which will allow you to engage your target audience through: – Product launches – Sales seminars – Staff training – Networking receptions

Facilities available include: exhibition halls, auditoriums, meeting rooms, hotels and even the residences of some US Ambassadors.

* Cost vary depending on event and market Consulting and Advocacy Market Intelligence Business Matchmaking Platinum Key Service* Trade Events

. A comprehensive, customized way to achieve business goals through long-term sustained support (typically 6 months to 1 year).

. Created to help achieve complex market development or goals such as; launching new products, reducing market access barriers, overcoming regulatory or standards issues.

. Tailored to the needs of small, medium or large businesses

. Commercial Service Officers and Specialists are ready to work with you to identify your requirements and establish a detailed plan to help you achieve your specific objectives within your target market.

* Cost vary depending on services rendered Trade Events

Trade Shows/Trade Missions

. International Trade Shows – U.S. pavilions put you in the best int’l trade shows with access to thousands of buyers. – Our team of Commercial Specialists arrange one-on-one meetings with potential buyers.

. International Buyer Program (IBP) – U.S. Department of Commerce selects leading domestic trade shows to promote through its global network of offices and contacts. – U.S. Commercial Service staff in our Embassies and Consulates abroad recruit and bring delegations of qualified buyers, prospective representatives and distributors to domestic trade shows. U.S. Commercial Service staff then facilitates meetings between buyers and exhibitors.

. International Trade Missions* – Opportunity to meet with distributors, government and industry officials, prospective customers, and U.S. Embassy officials.

* Costs vary depending on the mission Consulting and Advocacy

Trade Compliance Center

. Ensures that: - Trade agreements entered into by the U.S. are properly monitored - Compliance issues are addressed promptly - U.S. exporters are provided access to information on the opportunities created by U.S. government market opening initiatives . Two Main Functions: - Data Systems Management - Use the information superhighway to provide data and government assistance directly to businesses - Compliance Analysis - Analyzes foreign compliance with trade agreements by reviewing legal, economic and policy issues

http://www.tcc.mac.doc.gov Consulting and Advocacy

Advocacy Center

. Exporting today means more than just selling a good product at competitive prices, it can also mean dealing with foreign governments and complex regulations. The Advocacy center helps companies by putting the resources and authority of 19 U.S. government agencies behind your company to help resolve problems such as:

. Contracts pursued by foreign firms who receive assistance from their own governments to pressure a customer into buying their product or service

. Unfair treatment by government decision makers, preventing a U.S. company from competing for a project

. Tenders tied up with bureaucratic red tape, resulting in lost opportunities and unfair advantage to other competitors

http://export.gov/advocacy/ International Trade Community and Support

Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im) Programs

. Export Credit Insurance: If you have an international buyer or new distributor that wants up to one year to repay, but you are hesitant to extend open account terms on your own, then perhaps insuring the receivable is the solution. Our insurance programs can insure the receivable from 90-100 percent of the total invoice, thereby taking the risk on nonpayment off the U.S. company and putting it on the Export-Import Bank.

. Guarantees of Commercial Loans facilitate the financing of your goods/services to overseas buyers when an end user needs more than 1 year to pay (limited to capital equipment sales). The loan program requires a 15% down payment to the exporter made prior to shipment. At or around time of shipment, the exporter's lender would pay the U.S. exporter the remaining 85% of the contract value.

. The Working Capital Guarantee allows lenders to extend loans to small and medium exporters for the production of goods or service for export. International Trade Community and Support

District Export Councils

. District Export Councils (DECs) are organizations of leaders from the local business community, appointed by U.S. Secretaries of Commerce, whose knowledge of international business provides a source of professional advice for local firms. Currently there are 58

. The MN DEC - International Networking Events - www.exportassistance.com - Counseling companies

. Other Partners – Minnesota Trade Office – Midwest Global Trade Association – Minnesota International Center Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC)

Commerce-chaired interagency task force: . Establishes priorities. . Coordinate new programs and initiatives . Improves service delivery . Leverage resources/avoid duplication . Reports to Congress

Established mechanisms: . U.S. Export Assistance Centers . Trade Information Center (TIC) . Advocacy Center . Export.gov Core Trade Promotion Agencies

. SBA: Helps small firms become “export ready”; working capital programs. . Commerce (ITA): Market entry services to “export ready” firms; advocacy for major projects; market access . Ex-Im Bank: Loans guarantees, export credit insurance, and direct loans (to buyer). Official Export Credit Agency. . OPIC: U.S. investment in emerging economies: guarantees, finance, insurance. . USTDA: Orientation visits, feasibility studies, conferences. . Agriculture (FAS): Complete menu of services for agricultural goods, including finance; reliance on states. . State: Advocacy; Commercial function in Posts with no Commerce presence. . Energy: Assistance to renewable Energy companies policy guidance. U.S. Commercial Service Staff Covering Minnesota Minneapolis office: 100 North 6th St., Suite 210-C; Minneapolis, MN 55403; Tel: (612) 348-1638; Fax: (612) 348-1650; Email: [email protected]

Ryan Kanne Andrea Staebler Berton Director International Trade Specialist (612) 348-1637 (612) 348-1639 [email protected] [email protected]

Doug Jacobson David Edmiston Senior International Trade Specialist International Trade Specialist (612) 348-1643 (612) 348-1644 [email protected] [email protected]

Mathew Woodlee Fargo, North Dakota Senior International Trade Specialist Heather Ranck (612) 348-1640 Senior International Trade Specialist [email protected] (701) 239-5080 [email protected] Dean Matlack Sioux Falls, South Dakota Commercial Officer Cinnamon King (612) 348-1641 Director [email protected] (605) 330-4265 [email protected]