Key Business Links

U.S. Government Resources

Department of Commerce: The Department of Commerce mission is to help make American businesses more innovative at home and more competitive abroad.  Comprised of 12 different bureaus responsible for everything from weather forecasts to patent protection, the Department of Commerce touches the lives of Americans every day.

Brings together resources from across the U.S. Government to assist U.S. businesses in planning their international sales strategies and succeed in today’s global marketplace.  Visit Export.gov for a list of services, market research, and trade events that U.S. exporters can use to promote their products and services throughout the world.

The USTR is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing negotiations with other countries. The head of USTR is the U.S. Trade Representative, a Cabinet member who serves as the president’s principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade issues.

  • Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC):  OPIC is the U.S. Government’s development finance institution.  It mobilizes private capital to help solve critical development challenges and in doing so, advances U.S. foreign policy. Because OPIC works with the U.S. private sector, it helps U.S. businesses gain footholds in emerging markets catalyzing revenues, jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad. OPIC achieves its mission by providing investors with financing, guarantees, political risk insurance, and support for private equity investment funds.
  • U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA): helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions while creating sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in partner countries.

Other Resources

1. http://www.state.gov/directline

The Direct Line for American Business program connects U.S. businesses with American Ambassadors and U.S. mission personnel overseas, making you part of our “country team.”  You will get up-to-the minute information on markets vital to your business, and learn about new sectors and tenders to help you expand your business.  For more information and to receive announcements of new calls, visit www.state.gov/directline.

2. http://bids.state.gov

The Business Information Database System (BIDS) gives U.S. businesses up to date information about significant foreign government and multilateral development bank procurements.  Through an interactive map interface, businesses can find new export opportunities, validated by U.S. government economic and commercial experts overseas.  Public and private partners can link to or download BIDS data for matchmaking, analysis, or other purposes.

3. http://business.usa.gov/link-to-us

BusinessUSA is a White House initiative that serves as an electronic clearing house for U.S. Government information and assistance that relates to business.

4. www.OSAC.gov

The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) was created in 1985 under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to promote security cooperation between American private-sector interests worldwide and the U.S. Department of State.  OSAC has developed into an enormously successful joint venture, with U.S. companies and organizations receiving the tools they need to cope with security issues in a foreign environment.  OSAC is a free service to U.S.-based or incorporated private sector organizations with overseas operations.

OSAC promotes effective cooperation by working to assist the U.S. private sector to better anticipate security issues, including identifying and tracking threats, particularly those targeting private sector personnel, facilities, investments, interests, and intellectual property.  In addition to providing timely and actionable security information, OSAC also aids in the development of new markets with accurate assessments of current and future security environments.  Ensuring that critical security information is shared with those who need it, when they need it, OSAC is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer constituents’ questions with expert analysis of rapidly evolving security challenges overseas.

OSAC offers its constituents the latest in safety and security-related information, public announcements, Consular Affairs bulletins, travel advisories, significant anniversary dates, terrorist groups’ profiles, country crime and safety reports, special topic reports, foreign press reports, and much more.  The OSAC information exchange mechanism also includes a staff of international security research specialists that is dedicated solely to serving the U.S. private sector.  Additionally, OSAC has a network of Country Councils around the world that brings together U.S. embassies and consulates with the local U.S. community to share security information.

For more information or to join, please visit www.OSAC.gov.

5. The following are links to additional information that may be of interest to U.S. businesses: