Types of Export Promotion Activities and Events

The Office of Microelectronics, Medical Equipment, and Instrumentation, supported by the worldwide posts of the U.S. Commercial Service, offers a full calendar of activities and events at major international trade shows to assist U.S. firms in developing their export markets. The program descriptions below will help you identify the activities best geared to your specific needs. See our Calendar of Events for a listing of upcoming promotion opportunities for your company.

American Products Literature Centers (APLCs)

APLCs showcase U.S. company product literature at U.S. Department of Commerce booths in international trade shows. APLCs are designed to help you find agents and distributors in foreign markets. Department of Commerce industry specialists staff the APLC and collect contact and other information on interested parties. You do not need to personally attend the show. APLCs are typically priced at $500.

Participating in an APLC is easy and cost-effective, since your literature—not your marketing staff—travels to the show. All you need to do is provide us a brief description of your company for inclusion in the APLC directory and send 20 to 30 information packets (including two bound sets for display) to the U.S. embassy in the show country.

After the show you receive a list of the people interested in your product line. You then follow up with the interested parties in order to select the agent that best fits your needs. If you need additional help developing your export plan, individualized export counseling is available from Department of Commerce trade specialists at your local U.S. Export Assistance Center.

Trade Missions

Trade missions sponsored by the Department of Commerce (DOC) are composed of eight to 18 representatives from U.S. firms who visit foreign destinations to meet with prospective agents, distributors, joint venture, or licensing partners. For each participant, the Commerce Department evaluates market potential and finds and screens contacts. Representatives of U.S. firms visit the designated countries with a DOC industry specialist and receive a schedule of one-on-one business meetings and in-depth market and finance briefings. DOC personnel provide logistical support and arrange for interpreter service, as needed.

Other Activities

Because export promotion activities are sponsored by numerous Department of Commerce offices in the United States and abroad, the following calendar of events for the medical-device sector includes events designed by local offices to take advantage of unique opportunities. These include low-cost exhibit options at foreign trade shows, catalog displays at the local U.S. embassy library, and special support activities for U.S. firms exhibiting at or attending trade shows abroad.

Export.Gov

To assist U.S. exporters, the U.S. Department of Commerce offers a variety of support and counseling services. For more information about these programs and to find the location of the U.S. Export Assistance Center nearest you, visit the U.S. Government's Export Portal, export.gov.

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