In last month’s issue of Agency Sales magazine in an article focusing on the need for reps to at least consider the opportunities presented to them by working internationally, a consultant noted that there are foreign-trade organizations (e.g., JETRO for Japan and KOTRA for Korea) that attempt to stimulate business with foreign markets. It was emphasized that searching out and working with these organizations can pave the road for foreign market opportunities.

Including both the Japanese and Korean organizations already mentioned, MANA has compiled a list of foreign trade development organizations. Each of them is a MANA member and they can connect reps with manufacturers from their countries that are interested in exporting to the United States. Those organizations and a description of the type of information that may be found at a couple of the websites follows:

AUSTRIAN TRADE COMMISSION
Chicago, Illinois
(312) 644-5556
[email protected]
www.advantageaustria.org/us

Typical of the type of information visitors can find at the Austrian Trade Commission website is:

• Descriptions of Austrian businesses in the United States.
• Listing of trade shows fairs and events.
• Links to other Austrian Trade Commission offices in the United States.
• As well as the following description: ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA, with its more than 110 offices in over 70 countries, provides a broad range of intelligence and business development services for both Austrian companies and their international business partners. Our 750 employees and 40 consultants around the world can assist you in locating Austrian suppliers and business partners. We organize more than 1,000 events every year to bring business contacts together. Other services provided by ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA offices range from introductions to Austrian companies looking for importers, distributors or agents to providing in-depth information on Austria as a business location and assistance in entering the Austrian market.

CANADA BUSINESS SERVICE CENTRE
Ottawa, Canada
(613) 954-7814
[email protected]
www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/icgc.nsf/eng/home

CANADIAN CONSULATE GENERAL
Detroit, Michigan
(313) 446-7017
[email protected]
www.detroit.gc.ca

CANADIAN CONSULATE GENERAL
Seattle, Washington
(206) 770-4077
[email protected]
www.seattle.gc.ca

CONSULATE GENERAL OF CANADA
Miami, Florida
(305) 579-1629
[email protected]
www.seattle.gc.ca

GERMAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Chicago, Illinois
(312) 644-2662
[email protected]
www.gaccom.org/en

Visitors to this site will find: GACCoM is an integral part of the network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) with 120 offices in 80 countries around the globe. Our continuing mission is to further, promote and assist in the expansion of bilateral trade and investment between Germany and the United States, especially the Midwest. Our organization combines the elements of a trade commission, a membership association, and a professional consultancy — quite a unique concept in international trade promotion. GACCoM’s territory covers 14 U.S. states: the 13 states of the Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin) and Colorado, comprising together approximately one quarter of the nation’s geographical area, its population and its GDP. GACCoM’s office, which we share with Germany Trade and Invest (GTaI) and FrankfurtRhineMain Corp., is located in the heart of downtown Chicago.

ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION
Chicago, Illinois
(312) 670-4360
[email protected]
www.italtrade.com

Visitors to this site will find: The ICE-Italian Trade Promotion Agency is the government organization which promotes the internationalization of Italian companies, in line with the strategies of the Ministry for Economic Development. ICE provides information, support and advice to Italian and foreign companies.

In addition to its Rome headquarters, ICE operates worldwide from a large network of Trade Promotion Offices linked to Italian embassies and consulates and working closely with local authorities and businesses.

ICE provides a wide range of services overseas helping Italian and foreign businesses to connect with each other:

• Identification of possible business partners.
• Bilateral trade meetings with Italian companies.
• Trade delegation visits to Italy official participation in local fairs and exhibitions.
• Forums and seminars with Italian experts.

ITALIAN TRADE COMMISSION
Los Angeles, California
(323) 879-0950
[email protected]
www.italtrade.com

ITALY-AMERICA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC.
New York, New York
(212) 459-0044
[email protected]
www.italchamber.org

KOTRA CHICAGO
Chicago Illinois
(312) 644-4323
[email protected]
english.kotra.or.kr/wps/portal/dken

THE ISRAEL EXPORT INSTITUTE
Tel Aviv, Israel
972-3-5142918
[email protected]

TRADE COMMISSION OF SPAIN
Chicago, Illinois
(312) 644-1154
[email protected]
www.comercio.gob.es/en/pages/default.aspx

UBIFRANCE — FRENCH TRADE OFFICE
Chicago, Illinois
(312) 327-5253
[email protected]
www.ubifrance.com

WALLONIA TRADE OFFICE
Chicago, Illinois
(312) 357-0992
[email protected]
www.belgiantrade.org/USoffices

Visitors to this site will find: The BELGIAN TRADE COMMISSION — Wallonia Investment and Trade Office (BTC-WIT) is a foreign government agency entrusted with promoting trade and business opportunities between Belgium and the U.S.

Our mission is simple: “To primarily help businesses from Belgium, and more specifically Wallonia, export more efficiently to the United States and, secondly, attract American investors to the Wallonia region.”

To do this effectively, our offices are here to:

• Simplify the export process for small and medium enterprises to the United States.

As an export partner for Wallonia-based companies, BTC-WIT offers a wide range of export-oriented services and activities:

• General and commercial information on U.S. markets.
• Market studies tailored to specific areas upon request.
• Organization and planning of marketing activities (trade shows, economic missions, sector-based contact days, etc.).
• Establishing contacts with American organizations.
• Promoting Wallonia’s export potential within the States.
• Financial support and export financing.

 

The International Union of Commercial Agents and Brokers (IUCAB)
Does your company seek manufacturers’ reps in other parts of the world? MANA recommends you use IUCAB, an Amsterdam-based association of global manufacturers’ rep associations.
Austria Belgium Cyprus Belgium Denmark Finland	France Germany Greece Italy The Netherlands Norway	Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom & Ireland U.S.A.
www.iucab.com/en | [email protected] | Phone: 31 20 4700177