Celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week by Encouraging Small Business Exporting

This week marks the 5^th Annual Global Entrepreneurship Week. In our increasingly interconnected global economy, it’s important for American small businesses to have the tools to compete on the world stage. Ninety six percent of the world’s population lives outside of the United States, which represents a huge portion of the world’s buying power. That’s why President Obama set a goal to double exports by 2015. Here at the SBA, and across the Administration, we’ve made it a top priority to achieve this goal.

With demand for high quality American-made products on the rise, we’re focused on making sure small businesses have the tools they need to take advantage of growth opportunities in foreign markets. The SBA’s Office of International Trade has taken a number of steps to ensure that our programs provide the right type of support for small businesses in a changing world market so they can meet that growing demand.

Our export loan programs help small businesses and manufacturers export by funding their short-term export trade cycles; providing long-term financing for manufacturing expansion to meet export orders; and providing short-term financing to help companies connect with international buyers. Working together with the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Export-Import Bank, 19 trade finance specialist in U.S. Export Assistance Centers, and many additional private partners we are ready, willing and able to assist global entrepreneurs at every stage of growth.

We know that some small business owners have an interest in exporting, but they don’t know where to start. And that’s why we’ve made international counseling more accessible. We’ve certified 130 counselors throughout the SBA bone structure- the Small Business Development Center network- with the Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) accreditation, considered the “gold standard” of training in international trade. Another 281 counselors have achieved mid-level certification in trade counseling.  We encourage you to visit your local SBDC if you’re ready to take your business global.

Further, to increase access and opportunity for more small exporters, we hosted a matchmaking trade fair and conference in St. Louis, MO in October. The event gave small business owners the chance to connect with Export Trading Companies and Export Management Companies to market their products internationally. 

The Obama Administration stands ready to support America’s innovators and entrepreneurs so they can out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world and compete in a 21^st century global economy. Here at the SBA, we’re doing our part to help more Americans enter the middle class through entrepreneurship and foster an economy ripe with strong, growing small businesses meeting their potential to succeed.