Massachusetts Export Center

Recognizing the need to make export services easily accessible to companies of all sizes, the Massachusetts Export Center was established to serve as the states one-stop resource for export assistance. The Massachusetts Export Center offers a range of targeted, customized services to Massachusetts businesses at any stage in the export process. Whether you are a small business just thinking about exporting or an experienced exporter, the Massachusetts Export Center stands ready to help with services suited to your needs.

Export Counseling and Technical Assistance

International Market Research and Assessment

International Business Development Assistance

Export Growth Initiative

Export Training Programs

Export Publications

Export Counseling and Technical Assistance

The Massachusetts Export Center provides direct assistance to Massachusetts companies to support their international business development efforts. This is accomplished through counseling and technical assistance customized to the client's needs. Some of the areas addressed through the Export Center's one-on-one counseling and technical assistance services include:

Export planning and preparation
Assessment of export readiness
Export strategy and international business plan development
Assessment and selection of target export markets
International sales, marketing and distribution channel development/management
Identification and qualification of overseas customers and partners
International payment and financing
Export Compliance Assistance Program
Export logistics, including shipping, documentation, terms, controls, etc
NAFTA compliance and eligibility through our NAFTA First program
Working with export service providers, such as international banks, law firms, freight forwarders, etc.

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International Market Research and Assessment

To supplement export counseling and technical assistance services, the Export Center provides international market research to help clients make informed decisions on their international business activity. The Export Center has access to a wealth of information on export markets, ranging from general country information to specialized information on markets for specific industries/products in countries worldwide. This information is obtained through secondary market research sources, such as online subscription databases and the World Wide Web. In some cases, the Export Center also conducts primary research for clients needing specific information unavailable through secondary sources. Examples of research provided to clients include:

General information on doing business in different countries
Demographic, economic, political and cultural information on different countries
Information on specific industries/products in export markets, including:
- market size, characteristics and trends
- competitive environment
- trade barriers and regulatory environment
- pricing infrastructure
- sales & distribution channels
- key contacts (manufacturers, distributors, end-users, trade associations and journals,
government offices, etc.)
- trade shows
Detailed statistical information on U.S. exports by state, product and country

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International Business Development Assistance

The Massachusetts Export Center provides customized assistance to help clients expand their business overseas. Some of the Export Center's counseling, technical assistance and market research activities help clients in this area. In addition, through the Export Center's partnership with other state and federal government agencies, companies can take advantage of specific programs to market their products and services internationally. Below are examples of international business development assistance available to Export Center clients:

International business plan development
Assessment and selection of target export markets
Guidance on international sales, marketing and distribution channel development/management
Identification and qualification of overseas customers and partners
Overseas trade show identification and facilitation
Participation in overseas trade shows and missions
Linkages with state and federal overseas offices for in-country support

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Export Training Programs

Calendar of Upcoming Export Training Programs

The Massachusetts Export Center organizes several seminars throughout the year under the Partners for Trade program. Partners for Trade is the official export training initiative of the Commonwealth. The initiative is a regional collaborative between the Export Center, chambers of commerce, trade associations, economic development agencies and the private sector working together to plan and present frequent seminars on international trade. Since its inception, the Partners for Trade program has enabled thousands of Massachusetts companies to learn what they need to know to succeed in global markets.

Partners for Trade programs offer Massachusetts companies an overview of essential issues such as international marketing, legal issues, export logistics, international distribution and many other elements crucial to a successful exporter's international business strategy. In addition, many Partners for Trade programs address country-specific and industry-specific export issues.

In recent years, the Export Center has adapted the Partners for Trade program to keep pace with the increasing sophistication and knowledge Massachusetts companies have about exporting. In addition to basic exporting programs (e.g., the Evening Export School), the Export Center has designed advanced, series-type programs that provide an in-depth look at issues crucial to management of day-to-day export operations. Whenever possible, the Export Center incorporates current export trends, issues or regulatory changes into training programs.

Much of the training for the Partners for Trade program is provided by international trade experts from the private sector. These experts include international business lawyers, export consultants, freight forwarders, international bankers and international business executives from area companies. On average, over 1,000 companies participate in the Partners for Trade program each year.

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Export Publications

The Massachusetts Export Center develops a number of publications that provide practical, in-depth information on all aspects of exporting. These publications are designed to help companies understand and plan international business activities. Some of these publications also list contacts helpful to exporters. Examples of these publications include: International Trade Reporter e-newsletter; Start Thinking Export, a basic beginner's guide to exporting; How to Start an Export/Import Business, a guide to starting an export trading company; International Business Plan Workbook, a planning guide for export operations; Exporting: Licensing, Documentation, Logistics and Banking, an in-depth guide to the mechanics of exporting; and the Export Services Guide, a directory of export service providers in Massachusetts. In addition, an Annual Report is compiled each year on the Export Center's activities.

Massachusetts Export Center Publications Page

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