01/ 26/ 2005
by Jeffrey Moses
International trade has evolved tremendously in this age. Numerous Web sites exist that make finding foreign partners relatively easy. When you need to locate foreign companies to import or export products, consider the following:
1. The U.S. Department of Commerce has set up a department dedicated to helping U.S. companies find overseas trade partners. Visit the Department of Commerce site.
Scroll down and click on "The Commercial Service" button. You will be sent to a page that provides links to:
- World-class market research
- Trade events that promote your product or service to qualified buyers
- Introductions to qualified buyers and distributors
- Counseling through every step of the export process
Clicking on "introductions to qualified buyers and distributors" takes you to a page dedicated to an International Partner Search, with the following mission:
"Find qualified international buyers, partners or agents without traveling overseas. U.S. Commercial Service specialists will deliver detailed company information on up to five prescreened international companies that have expressed an interest in your company's products and services."
Consultation, guidelines and other aids for import/export are also available on this Web site.
2. Exporting is good business for any country. Therefore, most foreign consulates or embassies in the U.S. have offices dedicated to facilitating export and will have lists of manufacturers and products, often broken down by industry. Often, this information will be on the embassy Web site.
3. Many U.S. states have international trade centers or world trade offices that offer international business assistance, including providing information about potential foreign import/export partners. Web sites for state trade centers can be readily found using major search engines. Type in the name of your state, along with "International Trade Center" or "International Trade Office." Usually, you'll find a myriad of pertinent links.
4. Yahoo and some other search engines provide complete lists of international trade organizations for countries and regions worldwide. From the Arab American Chamber of Commerce to the Venezuelan American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the alphabetical Yahoo list is comprehensive. Many trade organizations throughout the world have offices eager to set up leads for importing and exporting.
5. Never forget that many of the most successful international relationships have begun as the result of direct personal knowledge of a company or a product. If you're interested in importing, when traveling keep your eyes open for products that would be likely to sell well through your networks. Contacting the manufacturer or distributor directly is a great way to start a relationship. If you're an exporter, always be on the lookout for products or lines that could be a good fit with the items you export. Again, contact the manufacturer or distributor to begin discussions about adding your products to their mix.
