For Immediate Release: May 20, 2010
Contact: Mary Trupo (202) 482-3809
2011 International buyer Program Schedule Announced
Boosting attendance of foreign buyers attending U.S. trade shows to grow U.S. exports
WASHINGTON -- In support of President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI) which aims to double U.S. exports within the next five years and supporting 2 million jobs, the Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA) today announced the trade events selected for participation in its 2011 International Buyer Program (IBP) schedule.
During fiscal year 2009, ITA’s U.S. Commercial Service (CS) recruited hundreds of delegations comprised of thousands of international business representatives to attend approximately 35 U.S. trade shows in all types of manufacturing and service sectors. During the last two fiscal years, an average of $1 billion dollars in annual U.S. export sales has directly resulted from IBP presence at these shows.
“As part of the NEI, our goal is to increase the number of international attendees to IBP events, and in doing so, increase the number of export sales from U.S. companies,” said Francisco Sánchez, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade. “International diversification is a real key to weathering the global economy, and President Obama is committed to giving U.S. companies the tools they need to increase exports to multiple markets supporting economic growth and jobs for Americans.”
Through the CS’s network of offices in U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, the IBP recruits pre-screened foreign buyer delegations and brings them to selected trade shows in the United States, connecting U.S. companies directly with international buyers.
The IBP provides the convenience to U.S. exhibitors of facilitating face-to-face meetings with prospective foreign buyers at a single venue, saving businesses time, resources, and expense. At the shows, trade specialists from CS manage an International Business Center, an area where foreign buyers can meet and negotiate with sellers, obtain assistance identifying potential business partners, and use the facility as a launching pad for successfully “walking the show floor.” U.S. exhibitors frequently take advantage of interpreter services and face-to-face export counseling from foreign-based trade specialists accompanying visiting delegations.
The next opportunity for U.S. trade events interested in applying to the IBP will be this fall for events scheduled in calendar year 2012. The 2011 IBP trade show schedule can be found on www.trade.gov/cs.
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International Trade Administration
The International Trade Administration (ITA) is the premier resource for American companies competing in the global marketplace. ITA has 2,100 employees assisting U.S. exporters in more than 100 U.S. cities and 77 countries worldwide. For more information on ITA visit www.trade.gov.
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