Podcasts May Help Small Businesses Break Into Global Markets

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The US Small Business Administration is now offering a new set of three export-oriented podcasts offering valuable information on issues and challenges small business exporters may find when dealing with specific countries.

The podcasts, featuring interviews with business representatives from Uganda, Cameroon, and Bahrain, are part of a comprehensive effort by SBA to promote and support the President’s National Export Initiative. The interviews focus on what US companies can expect when exporting to those countries and provide information relevant to their respective business and import environments.

“US small businesses looking to increase sales and profit should look beyond the US borders. Nearly 96 percent of the world’s consumers live outside the US and small business need to factor that in to their strategic planning,” said SBA administrator Karen Mills. “We’re hoping these tools will help them do that, so they can grow and create jobs here at home.”

The podcasts on Uganda and Cameroon include interviews with two women business owners who are members of the African Women’s Business Network, an organization that supports a network of businesswomen’s organizations in Africa. A podcast on Bahrain features an interview with an official of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the new online tools, SBA resource partners — Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers and SCORE — as well as US Export Assistance Centers are available to assist small businesses who are interested in exporting in every US state and territory.

These resource partners can help entrepreneurs identify potential export markets, facilitate export transactions, develop links between United States small business and prescreened foreign buyers, advise on participation in international trade shows, assist in obtaining export financing and developing or reorienting marketing and production strategies.

Besides counseling resources in every state and territory, there are export specialists available at the eight International Trade Export Assistance Centers and SCORE online international trade advisers.

The podcasts are available online at www.sba.gov/tools/audiovideo/Podcasts/index.html and include transcripts. They provide valuable information on country infrastructure, types of US products and services in demand, cultural tips on how to do business, and other relevant issues.