DBED’s International Operations team and foreign office representatives offer hands-on assistance to Maryland companies as they seek to identify and capitalize on international business opportunities. Our export assistance programs, developed by knowledgeable trade specialists, are designed to reduce the obstacles to doing business internationally, for first-time and experienced exporters alike.

• Export Assistance programs and services can help you:
• Reduce out-of-pocket costs.
• Identify potential partners, customers, and competitors in your target markets.
• Understand important foreign regulations.
• Market and promote your products overseas.

ExportMD is a grant program that offers small and mid-sized businesses monetary and consulting assistance with specific international marketing initiatives.  

Award includes:

• Reimbursement of 50% of project costs up to $5000 and/or 80 hours of service from our foreign offices in your target market
• Six-month membership to the World Trade Center Institute (WCTI) Representative Program

Maryland’s Representive Program provides exporters with a proactive bilingual sales and marketing presence in targeted overseas markets. 

Service includes:

• Answering of phones in native language
• Hosting meetings
• Participating in tradeshows
• Conducting market research
• Facilitating travel
• Maintaining routine contacts
• Monitoring the effectiveness of marketing efforts
• Providing trade leads

Pathfinder Program

The Pathfinder program ensures a presence for your business at international trade shows, at a fraction of the cost normally associated with preparing for, and attending, a show.  

Trade specialists are trained to attend shows on your behalf, and forge new contacts, identify and meet with potential partners, distributors, and customers, announce new products, generate publicity, present literature to prospects, find new suppliers, collect trade show catalogs, and draft a full report.