U.S. Government Offers 'How-To' Help for Businesses Looking to Export

21 Mar 2009 00:12 Africa/Lagos

U.S. Government Offers 'How-To' Help for Businesses Looking to Export

Commerce Department Releases 10th edition of "A Basic Guide to Exporting"

WASHINGTON, March 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. businesses looking to boost their bottom line by making new sales abroad now have an important resource at their disposal, the U.S. Department of Commerce's 10th edition of A Basic Guide to Exporting.


Companies can turn to the newly revised publication for nuts-and-bolts information on maximizing overseas success. In addition, each of its 17 chapters features a case study of a successful U.S. company that exports. The book also provides samples of forms needed to export, and points businesses to government-offered assistance from the U.S. Commercial Service.


"Exports make an important contribution to the U.S. economy, and A Basic Guide to Exporting will help additional businesses profit by going global," said Michelle O'Neill, acting under the secretary of commerce for international trade. "More than 70 percent of the world's purchasing power is beyond our borders."


The challenges of exporting can seem daunting, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. Currently, only about a quarter-million U.S. firms -- out of the nation's total of 27.2 million companies -- are exporters. A Basic Guide to Exporting shows that even the smallest business can find overseas markets, as risks are very manageable thanks to advances in logistics, banking, and market intelligence.


First-time exporters will find discussion of topics such as:
-- Identifying markets for their products
-- Financing export transactions
-- Best methods of handling orders and shipments
-- Sources of free or low-cost export counseling.


A Basic Guide to Exporting (stock number #003-009-00733-0) is available for $19.95 from the Superintendent of Documents (1-866-512-1800). Review copies are available to the news media upon request. For more information, visit the U.S. Commercial Service at www.export.gov/basicguide.


The U.S. Commercial Service, the trade promotion unit of Commerce's International Trade Administration (ITA), has a network of offices in more than 100 U.S. cities and in American embassies and consulates in nearly 80 countries. Last year, the U.S. Commercial Service helped facilitate more than 12,000 export successes worth nearly $70 billion in sales, supporting jobs across the country.


Contact:


Tim Truman (202) 482-3809


Source: U.S. Commercial Service

CONTACT: Tim Truman of the U.S. Department of Commerce, +1-202-482-3809


Web Site: http://www.export.gov/


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