Expanding U.S Exports





It was an honor to attend our in-person meeting of the Illinois District Export Council (IDEC). District Export Councils (DECs) members are appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and represents organizations of leaders from the local business community, whose knowledge of international business provides a source of professional advice for local firms.





As an appointed member our mission is to support exporters looking to expand to new markets. We partner with both the State and Federal government to advocate for policies that supports Illinois exporters, provide education and support through events and other community sensitization engagements. We also connect local businesses to government resources that could help fast-track their export journey.


If you are considering becoming an exporter here are 5 things I would recommend that you consider:

  1. Don't do it alone - while larger companies have internal teams with full international experience plus external consultant support, small businesses do not have the same. If you are a small business there are several resources that the U.S. government funds to help you grow trade internationally. As example I recently spoke at the Illinois International Trade Center - watch replay below.
  2. Educate yourself - Knowledge is power and the information you can gather around export markets is important.
  3. Attend Events - Connect with knowledge experts and others that can share their experience with you
  4. Plan and Develop short and long term export strategies
  5. Be patient - exporting takes time so do not rush the process.