Objective

The International Buyer Program (IBP) helps U.S. trade show organizers promote their domestic shows through the U.S. Commercial Service located at embassies and consulates overseas. Overseas promotion by the Commercial Service helps exhibitors at U.S. trade shows by ensuring the attendance of prospective overseas buyers interested in purchasing or representing U.S. goods and services. The program also benefits U.S. companies that exhibit at domestic trade shows in that the companies are able to display their products and/or services to foreign buyers without having to travel overseas. At U.S. trade shows, the Commercial Service establishes an international business center where attendees from abroad are welcomed, given a show overview, and counseled with matchmaking tools to help them achieve their business objectives, such as meeting U.S. suppliers of goods and services targeted at the show.

International Buyer Program Overview

Clients participating in the International Buyer Program will receive:

• Consultation services provided by an IBP project manager to promote the event during the 9-12 months preceding the show;
• Promotion to target audiences abroad in at least 70 major countries;
• Direct assistance to show staff regarding delegation plans, registrations, hotel requests, and participation in the event;
• The establishment and operation of one or more international business centers at the event;
• Qualified representatives at the show to perform international business counseling and provide help with international registration;
• An announcement of the event on the U.S. Commercial Service web site, linked to the organizer's web site;
• The escort of large delegations by Commercial Service specialists from the foreign country.

Quality Assurances

The U.S. Commercial Service assures that:

• A qualified international trade specialist will provide event management as outlined in the memorandum of understanding signed by the organizer;
• The trade specialist will coordinate and manage the promotional campaign, help prospective visitors register, find hotels, arrange meetings with U.S. companies, and manage an international business center at the event.