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Conclusion

Conclusion Besides the federal programs it is apparent the various states, counties, cities, world trade centers, trade associations, ports, universities and colleges, all have something to offer in the quest for sources of information and assistance to expand profits and sales through exports. And yet, there are still more sources, including national or international organizations, such as AID, the World Bank, the U.N., and even an organization as unfamiliar to most as the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The contacts for all of these and many more may be found in the appendices or in the specific programs described elsewhere in exporters-sources.com - index page -. To enlarge on these examples, consider AID. This U.S. agency operates throughout the less developed countries of the world and administers economic assistance programs for the federal government in more than 60 developing countries, encouraging them to purchase U.S. goods and services with AI

Financial assistance

Financial assistance The SBA offers direct loan and loan guarantee programs to assist small businesses. In recent years Congress has increasingly mandated that SBA provide special attention to business support in the export area as the trade imbalance worsens. As a result, there are now parallel financial programs for export and for domestic business. Since the loan officers in SBA have historically concentrated on longer-term working capital loans and fixed asset loans, it is often difficult for them to adjust to the concept of trade finance and transaction-based collateral. Real efforts are being made by the organization, however, and even though the past usage history of the export-oriented SBA programs is dismal, it now appears their various guarantee programs and especially the ERLC guarantee described below should become an increasingly viable source of financial support for the exporter. Special training is being provided to loan officers handling international loans. To be el

Agency for International Development

Agency for International Development (AID) Procurement Assistance SBA offers special help and performance guarantees through their 8(a) program to assist in procurement of AID contracts for overseas sales and services. This is accomplished within AID's OSDBU/MRC office and is detailed in Exporters-sources.com - index page - 13 under "The Agency for International Development" subheading.

SBDC/SBI Programs

SBDC/SBI Programs Business counseling and assistance are offered through Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and to some extent any of them may be capable of providing export business information and counsel. However, some SBDCs are now being organized specifically around an export orientation. SBDCs are most often found in colleges and universities, but not exclusively. The Small Business Institute (SBI) programs are confined to some 450 learning centers because they utilize business students who provide counseling, surveys, and strategic and feasibility studies under faculty supervision.

SCORE/ACE Programs

SCORE/ACE Programs Individual assistance and training is available through the dedicated Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) whose members include more than 600 former exporters. The Active Corps of Executives (ACE) is a volunteer organization of more than 2,600 executives and provides a similar service. Many of these executives have had international trade experience and are pleased to impart their knowledge.

Office of International Trade

Office of International Trade The Office of International Trade offers many programs for exporters, such as: • Export Counseling: Through Export Counseling, individual counseling by international trade specialists is offered when available in the area. For this purpose it might be wise to investigate the counseling staff that is available from both the US&FCS and SBA if both offices are equally available to you. • Export Training: Export Training is generally offered by means of co-sponsorship with DOC and/or private sector organizations. • Legal Assistance: The Export Legal Assistance (ELAN) program offers free, initial consultations on the legal aspects of exporting through an arrangement with the Federal Bar Association by qualified attorneys in the International Law Council. • Export Information Program (XIS): The XIS provides data that is based on SITC product categories taken from U.N. data. Check for submission dateon this and, for that matter, all other sources of inf

Loans for Export

Loans for Export SBA 7(a)l 6 Export Loan If the purpose of the loan can be shown to be for the acquisition or modernization of facilities for the production of goods or services for export, SBA's 7(a)l6 program applies and the Omnibus Trade Bill increased the loan limit to $1 million for export support. The firm must prove it will expand exports or it is being adversely affected by imports. No more than $250,000 of the eligibility under 7(a) 16 may be for working capital in contrast to facilities. Export Revolving Line of Credit Loan (ERLC) The Export Revolving Line of Credit (ERLC) program is called the 7(a) 14 loan and is available for pre-export financing purposes to develop foreign markets or to finance production primarily the latter. Insured foreign accounts receivable may be financed and used for collateral as well. The maximum guarantee is for $750,000 and a term of 12 months with opportunity for annual renewals up to 36 months. In whichever combination of these or othe