SBA Offers New Podcasts to Help Small Businesses Break Into the Global Market

The U.S. Small Business Administration is now offering a new set of three export-oriented podcasts offering valuable information on issues and challenges that small-business exporters may face when dealing with specific countries.

The podcasts, featuring interviews with business representatives from Uganda, Cameroon and Bahrain, are part of a comprehensive effort by SBA to promote and support President Barack Obama’s National Export Initiative. The interviews focus on what U.S. companies can expect when exporting to those countries, and provide information relevant to their respective business and import environments.

"U.S. small businesses looking to increase sales and profit should look beyond the U.S. borders," said SBA Administrator Karen Mills [pictured]. "Nearly 96 percent of the world’s consumers live outside the U.S., and small businesses need to factor that in to their strategic planning. We’re hoping these tools will help them do that, so they can grow and create jobs here at home."

The podcasts on Uganda and Cameroon include interviews with two women business owners who are members of the Africa Business Women Network, an organization that supports a network of businesswomen’s organizations in Africa. The podcast on Bahrain features an interview with an official of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The podcasts are available online at http://bit.ly/PodcastsExportsSBA, and include transcripts. They provide valuable information on country infrastructure, types of U.S. products and services in demand, cultural tips on how to do business, plus other relevant issues.

In his State of the Union Address on Jan. 27, 2010, President Obama announced the National Export Initiative as part of an effort to promote and achieve long-term, sustainable economic growth for the United States. The President has a goal of doubling exports over the next five years -- an increase that will support 2 million American jobs. The SBA is committed to supporting NEI by offering American small businesses the resources they need to break into, and succeed in, the global market.

In addition to the new online tools, SBA resource partners Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and SCORE -- as well as U.S. Export Assistance Centers -- are available to assist small businesses that are interested in exporting in every U.S. state and territory.

These resource partners can help entrepreneurs identify potential export markets; facilitate export transactions; develop links between United States small-business and pre-screened foreign buyers; advise on participation in international trade shows; assist in obtaining export financing; and developing or re-orienting marketing and production strategies.

In addition to counseling resources in every state and territory, there are export specialists available at the eight International Trade Export Assistance Centers, plus SCORE online international trade advisers.

There are 19 U.S. Export Assistance Centers located in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. USEACs are one-stop shops ready to provide small- or medium-sized businesses with personalized local export assistance by professionals from the U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Export-Import Bank, and other public and private organizations. For more information about USEACs, go to http://bit.ly/USEAC.

To find your local small-business counseling resources, please visit http://www.sba.gov/.

SOURCE: U.S. Small Business Administration
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Rep. Velázquez: Trade Changes Needed to Promote U.S. Small Business Abroad

Though small businesses make up 97 percent of America's exporters, they generate only 30 percent of national revenues from products sold overseas. The House Small Business Committee today pressed the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative [USTR] on their failure to have staff dedicated to ensuring that the needs of small firms are accounted for in trade practices, and examined current strategies to assist entrepreneurs with finding prospects in international markets.

"Small businesses have shown that they are eager and able to compete around the world," said Chairwoman Nydia M. Velázquez. "It only makes sense that there would be USTR officials dedicated to representing their interests.

"Despite the need for this representation, we heard today that out of the 22 assistant USTRs, not one is charged with aiding entrepreneurs. This is simply unacceptable in today's global marketplace, where small businesses play such a dominant role."

Though small firms have demonstrated interest and achieved success in the international arena, the unique challenges they face have slowed their expansion. For small businesses, conducting foreign transactions may prove to be expensive, thus limiting their ability to reach new customers and grow. Entrepreneurs also use a disproportionate amount of their resources navigating complex customs requirements, as well as complying with local, state, and federal laws.

Recent agreements have not included industries dominated by small business. They have also failed to stop unfair trade practices -- such as dumping and intellectual property theft -- that harm entrepreneurs. These actions are limiting small businesses' opportunities to benefit from trade, making it more difficult for them to compete domestically and internationally.

"Global opportunities are critical to many small business owners, who rely on trade to expand their ventures and continue innovating," Velázquez said. "Current trade measures have not created an environment that is conducive to entrepreneurial success."

Expansion into new markets has the potential to boost revenues -- improving small firms' overall ability to create jobs and contribute to domestic economic growth. Steps must, therefore, be taken to ensure they are an integral part of trade policies.

At today's hearing, witnesses outlined a small business-oriented trade strategy -- including international commitments that provide more transparent and less expensive regulations. Additionally, harmonizing and simplifying customs requirements would allow small businesses to easily export to multiple countries, giving them access to more customers in return for their investment.

Trade promotion programs that focus specifically on small firms -- such as the financing program at the Export-Import Bank -- can play an important role in maintaining small companies' competitiveness. These changes will increase domestic profits from exports, combating the rising trade deficit.

"As Congress debates new international agreements and considers changing its trade rules, small firms have a lot at stake," Velázquez noted. "This committee will work to streamline the process and ensure small business interests are promoted, not marginalized, as they have been in the past."
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