Need expert advice on international trade? Just ask us; the Maryland District Export Council offers free help to the business community.
The DEC is a private, non-profit organization that brings together experienced international business people who provide guidance and assistance in international markets. The DEC works closely with professionals of the U.S. Commercial Service in Baltimore. DEC members also meet with federal, state, and local elected officials to educate and inform them on trade policy issues impacting our business community.
Mission: The District Export Council encourages and supports:
- Exports that strengthen individual companies, stimulate U.S. economic growth, and create jobs;
- Export expansion activities by working with the US & FCS domestic offices; and
- Opportunities to promote greater export activity at the local level by developing a trade assistance network.
Through:
- Counseling of local businesses;
- Identifying export financing sources for businesses;
- Creating greater export awareness in their local business communities;
- Identifying issues that affect export trade and implementation of constructive suggestions or improvement;
- Supporting programs and services of US & FCS domestic offices;
- Building local export assistance partnerships with other organizations; and
- Promoting international education at the community level
DEC Members have a wide range of international business expertise. Our members each have special trade knowledge they are eager to share to help businesses develop export sales. By completing the mentoring request form above, we can connect you with the right DEC member, or with other service providers as appropriate. DEC members are also available to speak on international trade topics to audiences of business executives and concerned citizens.
Export-U.com is the DEC’s massive free online export training and resource website. It has 20 export webinars on 15 practical topics like: “How do I find overseas customers?” or “How do I get paid?” or “How can I manage international business risk?” In addition, the site’s Exporter’s Resource Database offers tons of information, including over 200 downloadable publications, and an enormous cash of other trade-related information.