ASIA TRADE CENTER PROGRAM
The Asia Trade Center (ATC) Program works with small to medium-sized enterprises throughout Illinois on Asia-specific business issues by leveraging the existing resources and personnel of the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center and NAFTA Opportunity Center at Bradley University. The ATC also works with other international Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) in Illinois, the US Department of Commerce Export Assistance Centers, and the State of Illinois Office of Trade and Investment.
The ATC provides free counseling on Asia-specific trade issues, including the services described below. Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) assistance focuses on identifying procurement and consulting opportunities, navigating the submission process, developing bidding strategies, and marketing new technologies to Asian Development Bank (ADB) staff and Asian national decision makers.
Services Offered by the ATC:
- One-on-one counseling on Asia-trade issues
- Training, workshops, and seminars on Asia topics
- Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) Consulting
- MDB Procurement Guide
- Assistance finding Asian Development Bank (ADB) business opportunities
- Identifying potential Asia export markets
- Identifying potential foreign buyers in Asia
- Assisting with foreign market entry
In 2003, the ADB loaned over $6.1 billion dollars to member countries with much of this amount used to purchase goods and consulting services. Last year, U.S. companies were awarded more contract dollars than any other country, however Illinois companies received few of these contracts. ADB projects focus on everything from health care and education to road building and improving the environment, all industries that are well represented in Illinois.
For more information or to explore Asia trade opportunities, please contact the Asia Trade Center Program at (309) 677-3075 or via email at itc@bradley.edu.
The Asia Trade Center Program was created in 2002 through a U.S. Department of Education Business and International Education Title VIB grant to increase the competitiveness of Illinois firms and build exports to Asia.