Published July 2002

Go global with help from Export Assistance Center

“Hi, I’m from the government, and I’m here to help you.”

Many business people could be excused for being a little skeptical upon hearing such an introduction. But if you hear it from Richard Henry of the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center, you can take it to the bank: Assisting businesses is 100 percent of their business.

Working from the office of the Snohomish County Economic Development Council, Henry is a senior international trade counselor covering Snohomish, Skagit, Island and Whatcom counties. He offers businesses personalized assistance in:

• Assessing and developing international marketing strategies.
• Providing customized market research, international trade data, leads and contacts.
• Trade promotion events, programs and publications.
• Financing information on export loans, loan guarantees and export credit insurance.

In short, if you want to establish a connection to overseas markets, facilitate an introduction to a potential overseas business partner or obtain customized information about global market prospects, you want to talk with Richard Henry.

Most of the Export Assistance Center services are provided at no cost, a boon especially to small businesses wanting the chance to expand globally.

“We work with businesses of all types and sizes that want to reach out to the global marketplace,” Henry said.

The EDC supports the export center, because when a business succeeds as an exporter, employment increases here at home.

“We’ve helped an apparel company export dresses to Europe, a helicopter accessories manufacturer to export parts all over the world, a construction company interested in learning what steps to take so it could bid on a coal production plant in South America.”

Often, businesses need just a nudge to get started in exporting.

“In some cases, all the businesses need is help being introduced overseas to the right people,” Henry noted. “In many countries, having that introduction come from an official of the U.S. Government provides instant credibility.”

As an arm of the Commerce Department, Export Assistance Center counselors like Henry are part of a global network of federal government commercial specialists stationed in most U.S. embassies and consulates all over the world.

“When a business wants to get ‘into a country,’ I will go to the appropriate trade counselor in our embassy or consulate to begin the process,” Henry said.

Culturally, doing business overseas often isn’t as difficult as it may initially appear, Henry said. “Our experience has been doing business, say, in Singapore is much like doing business right here in Washington state,” he said.

Henry’s office is a satellite of the Seattle U.S. Export Assistance Center and, until recently, operated from the offices of County Executive Bob Drewel. Because of its strong contribution to economic development, the office recently moved to the EDC’s headquarters in south Everett and may be contacted at 425-248-2010.

Deborah Knutson is President of the Snohomish County Economic Development Council. She can be reached at 425-743-4567 or by e-mail to dknutson@snoedc.org.

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