International Trade Assistance Organizations

Government offices designed to facilitate international business and trade can be extremely helpful to potential exporters. Their services are often free or subsidized. However, their resources are limited and care should be exercised in selecting agencies whose mandates are relevant and appropriate to the exporter. The following is a listing of local international trade agencies involved in fostering trade between U.S. and foreign countries.

California Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Export Program
1220 N Street, Suite A-280
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: (916) 654-0389
Fax: (916) 653-2604
Website: http:// www.cdfa.ca.gov/exports

The California Agricultural Export Program (CAEP)works to foster the growth of California's exports of food and agricultural products by creating and expanding global market opportunities. Building strategic partnerships is the secondary function. Main export services are Trade Policy and Informational Services. There are no charges for their services. Organization staff size is 10, including 4 overseas representatives.

California Energy Commission
1516 Ninth Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: (916) 654-4528
Fax: (916) 653-8251
Website: http://www.energy.ca.gov

The California Energy Commission is a state energy regulation and technology promotion agency. The international program promotes energy technology exports. The office staff works with exporters to assist them in 1) obtaining project financing sources for small- and mid-sized companies (less than $100 million per project) and 2) organizing targeted, energy-related business development conferences in California and other countries. Charges vary for each service provided, while there are no fees for the seeking of project finance sources.

California Export Finance Office (CEFO)
5201 Great America Parkway, #350
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Tel: (408) 986-8373
Fax: (408) 980-0280

The California Export Finance Office provides loan guarantees to finance export sales. Their services include export finance marketing, and export finance analysis, write-ups and loan presentations. The CEFO has offices in Santa Clara, San Diego, and its headquarters in Long Beach. The CEFO guarantees up to $750,000 in loans, and can co-guarantee up to 1.5 million in conjunction with the Export- Import Bank and the Small Business Administration.

Center for International Trade & Development

The CITD offers counseling and classes to small businesses that want to start or expand export operations. This program is funded by the State of California and local community colleges.

Skyline College CITD
40 Chestnut Avenue
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Tel: (650) 553-9071
Fax: (650) 553-9077

Silicon Valley CITD
2450 South Bascom Avenue
Campbell, CA 95008 USA
Main SVCITD phone: 408-879-1804
Bernie Weiss, Director: 408-879-1805
Fax: 408-879-1448

Silicon Valley Center for International Trade Development (SVCITD) enhances the competitive strength of California businesses in the international marketplace and supports international trade development in their local communities by providing businesses with export and import training programs, trade leads and matchmaking, technical assistance and international trade counseling services.

Export- Import Bank of the United States, San Jose Branch
125 South Market Street, Suite 1001
San Jose, CA 95113
Tel: (408) 271-7300
Fax: (408) 271-7307
Website: http://www.exim.gov

The Export- Import Bank's primary functions are to finance and facilitate the export of U.S. goods and services, as well as offer product training and information seminars. Services and facilities offered by the bank are working capital guaranteed, financing to an exporter, post-export credit insurance, insured and guaranteed credit facilities. There are no charges for services.

San Francisco Mayor's Office of International Trade and Commerce
War Memorial Building
401 Van Ness Avenue, Room 448
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel: (415) 554-6668
Fax: (415) 554-6018

The Mayor's Office of International Trade and Commerce provides support for international activities including trade missions. Their efforts involve hosting buying delegations, developing sister city programs and the coordinating the mayor's international affairs.

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
917 Seventh Street
Sacramento, CA 95831
Tel: (916) 447-9827
Fax: (916) 443-2672
Website: http://www.fas.usda.gov

The organization's function is to inform trade service partners about FAS services, including market research, programs and trade shows. Services include education, contacting and helping the exporters in arranging and buying missions. Most services are free although some carry a minimal cost.

U.S. Department of Commerce,
Santa Clara Export Assistance Center
5201 Great America Parkway, Suite 456
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Tel: (408) 970-4610
Fax: (408) 970-4618
Website: http://www.svexport.org

San Francisco Export Assistance Center
250 Montgomery Street, 14th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94 104
Tel: (415) 705-2300
Fax: (415) 705-2297
Website: http://www.ita.doc.gov

San Jose Export Assistance Center
125 South Market Street, Suite 1001 10th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
Tel: (408) 271-7300
Fax: (408) 271-7306
Website: http://www.ita.doc.gov

The Export Assistance Center promotes the export of U.S. goods and services. They also provide export counseling, overseas market information, international contacts and trade promotion vehicles to local companies. Other services include International Trade Shows and International Buying Delegations. There are many free programs and events, but some services do include fees based on a cost recovery basis. Many of the staff are international trade specialists with specialized language skills and advanced industry knowledge and market experience.

U.S. Small Business Administration
455 Market Street, 6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
Tel: (415) 744-6792
Fax: (415) 744-9062
Website: http://www.sba.gov/ca/sf

The SBA assists small businesses owners in starting and expanding their operations. Their main exporting services include providing loan guarantees up to $750,000 to finance short-term, transaction specific, and export needs. Another primary function is to provide low cost counseling and training to small businesses owners on starting or expanding export operations. The SBA office also includes a high-tech business library, which may be used by entrepreneurs to research their business ideas and develop their business plans.

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