Global Diversity Export Initiative Events

The United States Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, is organizing a Global Diversity Export Initiative (GDEI) Trade Mission to Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia from March 10-15, 2024, that will include the Opportunities for Woman-Owned Businesses in the Americas Conference in Panama City, Panama on March 10-11, 2024. 

Recruitment and consideration will be extended to all export-ready U.S. companies, including small businesses, trade associations and other exporting organizations that meet the established criteria for participation in the mission. ITA is seeking to improve outreach and representation of businesses with owners and/or leaders from underserved communities, including through the GDEI.

When women trade, women succeed economically. With 95 percent of world consumers and 80 percent of world purchasing power outside of the United States, international trade is an untapped resource for women-owned businesses. Women-owned companies that trade and export earn more, create more jobs, stay in business longer and are more resilient to financial shocks than those relying exclusively on domestic markets.

This mission is focused on expanding export opportunities to U.S. small and medium-sized businesses that are founded, led, operated or owned by women from industries with growing potential in Panama, Costa Rica, and Colombia.

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The U.S. Commercial Service’s Building Bridges to Global Markets brings no-cost, in-person exporting expertise to your community. Addressing issues most common to diverse businesses seeking international sales expansion, this series of events will introduce reliable contacts, accurate information, and ready-to-use resources that will place you firmly on the road to exporting success. 

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GDEI Education Trade Mission to South India

February 12-20, 2024 | 5 Locations

This trade mission will promote U.S. higher education in Bengaluru and four southern Indian secondary markets – Manipal, Mangaluru, Kochi, and Coimbatore.  Through this targeted event, the U.S. Commercial Service will assist in recruiting Indian students from these markets to the United States. 

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ExporTech is an export acceleration program for executives of manufacturing, technology, and service firms, organized by the U.S. Commercial Service and the MEP National Network. In Fiscal Year 2024, and in collaboration with the National Alliance for Black Business, the U.S. Commercial Service and the MEP are offering dedicated programs to target the export needs of businesses from underrepresented communities. Conducted online, during six half-day sessions with individualized coaching over an 11-week period, ExporTech™ accelerates a company’s export strategic planning process into a concise time frame. Manufacturing, service-based exporters, and technology executives are invited to apply. A maximum of eight companies will be selected for each program, providing your executive team with a unique learning environment. Products/services must be 51% U.S. content. Spring/summer 2023 program dates TBD. 

Learn More

To request additional information, including program dates and an application, when it becomes available, please contact Nicolas Cervantes at Nicolas.Cervantes@trade.gov.