Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Commerce has named a record 42 shows to its International Buyer Program for its 2006 fiscal year, which begins October 2005. This is a significant increase over the 36 events selected for 2005 and the 28 chosen in 2004.
The growth was made possible by a reorganization that brought in 16 additional personnel, says Jim Boney, Sector Manager and International Buyer Program, Global Trade Programs, U.S. Department of Commerce. Since its original inception in the 1970s (the program assumed the name International Buyer Program in 1999), the number of applicants has exceeded the available spots. And for good reason — the program brings a total of more than 160,000 overseas buyer attendees to the selected events every year.
This year’s list represents a variety of industries, selected for their ability to compete internationally. (See table below.)
What is the DOC’s International Buyer Program?
An export promotion program of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the International Buyer Program works with trade show organizers to promote selected U.S.-based events worldwide. The effort has successfully brought more than 160,000 international buyer attendees to selected shows.
Application and Selection Process
Interested show producers apply within a 60-day window that typically ends in June. Each event is then ranked on a variety of criteria by overseas posts and project officers using a 10-point scale. The survey is intended to determine market demand, international interest in attending an event and the show’s potential both abroad and at home. Responses are evaluated and selections announced.
The inclusion of an industry or show is not based on product, but rather on its global competitiveness and ability to benefit from participation in the program. “Industries tend to run hot and cold,” says Boney.
Costs and Benefits
Once selected, the show organizers are contacted to arrange meetings to start the planning process and set promotional schedules. The work begins 9 to 12 months before the show to allow enough time for promotional efforts. These efforts include advertising in Commercial News USA, overseas newsletters and related sector publications; direct marketing through posts and local co-sponsoring organizations; and work with commercial staff in U.S. embassies and consulates.
The program is affiliated with 179 offices in 78 countries, some of which will organize delegations to attend the events. IBP staff then manages an International Business Center on the show site that hosts these delegates and performs matchmaking between overseas distributor prospects and the show’s exhibitors.
According to Boney, the number of delegations per show varies, with an average of five to eight and the highest rising above 50. “We drew 34 delegations to the AAIW – Automotive Aftermarket Industry, about 30 to CONEXPO-CON/AGG and 25 to NAHB’s International Builders Show,” estimates Boney.
Show organizers pay $8,000 a year to participate for one on-site International Business Center and $12,000 if they wish to have two.
In addition to raising global awareness of the event and increasing international attendance, the show’s exhibitors see direct benefits as well. They are able to:
- Meet qualified foreign buyers and distributors, whether on their own or through the business center;
- Promote their products and services worldwide through the Export Interest Director, which is published by the event organizers and distributed to all international visitors at the show;
- Obtain access to hundreds of current international trade leads; and
- Receive expert hands-on export counseling, marketing analysis and matchmaking services.
Reach Jim Boney, Sector Manager and International Buyer Program, Global Trade Programs, U.S. Department of Commerce, (202) 482-0146 or Jim.Boney@mail.doc.gov.
Trade Shows Selected for DOC’s International Buyer Program FY 2006
Start Date
Show Name
Sector Name
Location
26-Sep-05
PACK EXPO
Food Processing & Packaging
Las Vegas, NV
1-Oct-05
American Dental Association Exhibition
Dental Equipment
Philadelphia,PA
18-Oct-05
Medtrade
Medical Equipment
Atlanta, GA
22-Oct-05
TELECOM
Telecommunications
Las Vegas, NV
25-Oct-05
Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Expo (LAGCOE)
Oil/Gas Field Machinery
Lafayette, LA
25-Oct-05
ISA Expo – Automation & Control
Process Controls – Industrial
Houston, TX
26-Oct-05
Worldwide Food Expo
Food Processing & Packaging
Chicago, IL
29-Oct-05
WEFTEC
Pollution Control
Washington, DC
1-Nov-05
AAIW – Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week
Automotive
Las Vegas, NV
6-Nov-05
Int’l Irrigation Show
Agribusiness
Phoenix, AZ
25-Nov-05
Greater New York Dental Meeting
Dental Equipment
New York, NY
6-Dec-05
POWER-GEN International
Electric Power Systems
Las Vegas, NV
5-Jan-06
Int’l CES (Consumer Electronics Show)
Consumer Electronics
Las Vegas, NV
12-Jan-06
Int’l Builders Show
Building Products
Orlando, FL
17-Jan-06
World of Concrete
Construction
Las Vegas, NV
1-Feb-06
MAGIC Marketplace – Winter
Apparel & Textiles
Las Vegas, NV
3-Feb-06
Graphics of the Americas
Printing & Graphic Arts
Miami Beach, FL
14-Feb-06
World Ag Expo
Agribusiness
Tulare, CA
Mar-06
SATELLITE Conference & Exhibition
Telecommunications
Washington, DC
12-Mar-06
Int’l Home & Housewares Show
Household Consumer Goods
Chicago, IL
24-Mar-06
Natural Products Expo – West
Household Consumer Goods
Anaheim, CA
Apr-06
Int’l Franchise Expo
Franchise
Washington, DC
2-Apr-06
AHMA – Hardware Show
Building Products
Chicago, IL
5-Apr-06
Int’l Security Conf/Expo (ISC EXPO)
Security/Safety
Las Vegas, NV
5-Apr-06
CTIA Wireless
Telecommunications
Las Vegas, NV
21-Apr-06
Kitchen/Bath Industry Show/Conf
Building Products
Chicago, IL
24-Apr-06
Nat’l Assn of Broadcasters – NAB Show
Telecommunications
Las Vegas, NV
May-06
Waste Expo
Pollution Control
TBD
7-May-06
Food Marketing Institute – FMI Show
Food Processing & Packaging
Chicago, IL
9-May-06
Nat’l Hardware Show & Lawn-Garden World
Building Products
Las Vegas, NV
20-May-06
Nat’l Restaurant-Hotel-Motel Show – NRA
Hotel/Restaurant Equipment
Chicago, IL
21-May-06
National Show (Cable & Telecom)
Telecommunications
New Orleans, LA
5-Jun-06
SUPERCOMM
Telecommunications
Chicago, IL
7-Jun-06
InfoComm International
Audio/Visual equipment
Orlando, FL
11-Jun-06
American Water Works Assn Conf/Exhibit
Water Resources Equipment
San Antonio, TX
19-Jun-06
Int’l Plastics Showcase – NPE 2006
Plastics Machinery & Equipment
Chicago, IL
21-Jun-06
C3 Expo (Corporate and Channel Computing)
Computer Equipment & Services
New York, NY
6-Jul-04
Clinical Laboratory Exposition
Laboratory & Scientific Instuments
Chicago, IL
1-Aug-06
MAGIC Marketplace – Summer
Apparel & Textiles
Las Vegas, NV
6-Aug-06
APCO Int’l Conference & Exposition
Security/Safety
Orlando, FL
15-Sep-06
Natural Products Expo – East
Household Consumer Goods
Washington, DC
25-Sep-06
Int’l School,Home,Office Prod. – SHOPA Show
Business Equipment
Orlando, FL
