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District Export councils (DECs) are organizations of local business leaders, whose knowledge of international business provides a source of professional advice to companies seeking to expand international sales. Each DEC works with the local US Commercial Service Offices. DECs accomplish their mission through counseling local businesses, identifying export financing sources, sponsoring programs to create greater export awareness in the local community, identifying export financing sources, sponsoring programs to create greater export awareness in the local community, identifying issues that impact export trade, supporting the programs and services of the US Export Assistance Offices, encouraging international education, and building local export assistance partnerships.
The 56 councils nationwide combine the energies of 1600 volunteers representing business, universities, and governments. Export Council Members have extensive knowledge of international business and access to specialized information resources. Members, appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, provide an important source of professional advice that complements the counseling and assistance provided by US Trade Specialists. Activities of individual DECs are tailored to address community needs. DECs establish committees for specific international trade topics and priority objectives of local business and the commerce Department.
Typical committees include export finance, counseling and education. New ideas and initiatives that work well for a DEC are shared with other DECs either on a regional basis or through the National Chairperson's Council, and Steering Committee, to ensure effective communication among the DECs.
Some examples of DEC activities include establishing speakers bureaus and speakers kits, conducting export seminars and workshops, organizing export promotion programs on a regional basis, and sponsoring Trade Missions or hosting international buyers delegations. The bottom line for each DEC is to help American firms to export. Through the combined efforts of all members, the nationwide network of DEC's significantly contributes to U.S exports and national economic security.
Northern California Export Council
442 Post Street, Suite 80
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel: (415) 433-9084
Fax: (415) 421-1697
Email: ncaldec@ix.netcom.co
Jerry Levine, Chairman
The Northern California Export Council is based in San Francisco, with a Silicon Valley Chapter, a Bay Chapter, and a Central Valley Chapter. Like its 55 sister Councils around the country, it is a volunteer organization of international business leaders, appointed by the U.S Secretary of Commerce, and dedicated to assisting companies in this area in their international trade activities. It does this through seminars, workshops, mentoring, conferences and publications. This Council has also been a national leader in measures supporting the International Trade Administration's Commercial Service, and in enhancing inter-communication among the District Export Councils.
This Directory has been researched and published by the Northern California Export Council, which may be contacted for further assistance in identifying sources of export assistance.