FAQ's

6.  How do I locate trade leads for my exporting business?  How do I locate potential        distributors in overseas markets?

The Commerce Department offers many programs to assist exporters with trade leads:

• Trade Opportunities Program - provides trade leads that arrive daily from U.S. embassies abroad.  These leads are printed in the Journal of Commerce and other private sector newspapers.  TOP leads are also available through the STAT-USA Internet site (http//:www.stat-usa.gov).  For subscription information, contact STAT-USA at 1-800-STAT-USA.

• The Central & Eastern Europe Business Information Center (CEEBIC) and the Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States (BISNIS) offer trade leads for their respective regions.  Both offices are part of the U.S. Department of Commerce's USA Trade Center in Washington, DC.  Visit their both their websites:
  CEEBIC: http://www.mac.doc.gov/eebic/ceebic.html BISNIS: http//:bisnis.doc.gov, or call 1-800-USA TRADE.

• Country Directories of International Contacts provides lists by country, foreign directories of importers (showing name, address, telephone number, etc.), government agencies, trade associations and other organizations in countries where the Commercial Service maintains a presence.  This list represents the primary sources of contact information that each U.S. Commercial Service post thought would be useful and does not represent an endorsement of any of the services listed.  It is available on the National Trade Data Bank (see question 4 for more information on the NTDB).

• International Partner Search is a customized search on behalf of U.S. companies seeking foreign representation.  U.S. commercial officers abroad conduct the agent/distributor search based on requirements specified by the rewuesting firm.  The search for agents and distributors takes 60-90 days and costs $600 per market.  You can place an order for this service through our office (907) 271-6237.

• Gold Key Service is custom-tailored for U.S. companies planning on visiting a foreign country, combining orientation briefings, market research, introductions to potential partners, interpreter service for meetings and assistance in developing a marketing strategy.  A Video Gold Key Service, a custom-tailored program via videoconference is also available.  Contact our office for more information regarding this service.

• International Buyer Program - Look for contacts at your industry's trade shows in the United States.  U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service officers worldwide recruit qualified foreign buyers to attend the selected trade shows.  These shows are extensively publicized through embassy and regional commercial newsletters, catalogs, foreign trade associations, chambers of commerce, travel agents, government agencies, corporations, import agents and equipment distribuotrs in targeted markets.

• Internet Guide to Trade Leads is a comprehensive source of internet sites that contain trade leads.  The Internet Guide can be found on our website by clicking here.

• Trade Missions - Usually focusing on one industry or service sector, trade missions provide participants with detailed marketing information, advanced planning and publicity, logistical suppot and pre-arranged appointments with potential buyers, government offficials and others.  Participants pay between $2,000 - $5,000, depending on locations and number of countries visited.  Missions usually consist of 5 - 12 U.S. business executives.  For more information of upcoming trade missions, click here.