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Advocacy with Multilateral Development Banks
Multilateral Development Banks finance development projects worth billions of dollars throughout the world.

Advocacy Liaisons at Multilateral Development Banks

Doing Business with Multilateral Development Banks

Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are organizations comprised of donor and borrowing member countries that provide financing and advice for the purpose of economic advancement in developing countries. These Banks finance development projects worth billions of dollars throughout the world. 

Doing business with any of the MDBs depends on a company’s ability to do business in the country where the project will be implemented, and with the borrowing government that runs the procurement process. Knowledge of the local language, culture, business practices, legal system, and other local conditions is essential. 

How Advocacy MDB Liaisons Support U.S. Companies

The Advocacy Center has MDB Liaison Officers at each of the five MDBs to assist U.S. companies on how to work with these banks, advocate on procurement and contracting issues to ensure fair and equal treatment, and increase the proportion of MDB projects won by U.S. firms. Services include:

  • Counseling on how to approach the MDB and borrowing governments.
  • Meeting with MDB project managers to provide U.S. firms with updates on specific projects.
  • Identifying upcoming projects that present a good opportunity for U.S. firms.
  • Identifying funded projects with business opportunities for U.S. companies.
  • Informing U.S. firms of relevant Invitations to Bid (specific procurement notices).
  • Advocating that project bids from U.S. companies receive fair and equal consideration as foreign countries’ project bids.
  • Keeping U.S. firms informed of MDB-procured contracts, including policy studies and goods/services directly procured by the MDB.

Download the Doing Business with the Multilateral Development Banks Guide. 

Multilateral Development Banks: Locations and Liaison Contacts

World Bank | Washington, D.C., USA

Inter-American Development Bank | Washington, D.C., USA

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development | London, United Kingdom

Asian Development Bank | Manila, Philippines

African Development Bank | Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

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The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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