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MEMPHIS - 07/21/04 - The Commerce Department's US Commercial Service (USCS) has said it will partner with Federal Express to provide ongoing support to Commercial Service efforts aimed at boosting exports from US-based small and medium-size businesses.
 
The agreement promotes exporting through "cooperative public-private sector export tools and resources," said Rhonda Keenum, assistant secretary for trade promotion and director-general of the US Commercial Service.
 
"This is a big win for US businesses, especially smaller firms looking to export. Ninety-five percent of the world's consumers are outside the US, and by combining our export resources, FedEx and the Commercial Service will make it easier for US-based exporters to establish and grow their international sales," she said.

According to the initiative, "FedEx will inform its customers about the benefits of the US Commercial Service's worldwide export assistance network of 108 domestic offices and 149 posts in 78 countries that provide small and medium sized business end-to-end export solutions."

Each year, the USCS conducts thousands of trade events, and this new cooperative agreement with FedEx "should generate more public awareness of the Commercial Service's export promotion activities designed to boost US export sales from small and medium-size businesses," said Keenum.

The agreement includes linking of the BuyUSA.com and FedEx Web sites, and in the future could include other activities like joint export promotion seminars for US small and medium business, sales force training, and direct marketing campaigns.

Memphis-headquartered FedEx will support US small and medium-sized exporters through its online website and extensive network of global operations.

Over the last decade, "US exports have accounted for a significant portion of the nation's economic growth, with exports currently supporting about 20% of all US manufacturing jobs, so there is vast untapped export potential," said Keenum.

"Small and medium-sized companies comprise about 97% of US exporters, but as a group account for a relatively small share of the total value of US exports. Small businesses create 70% of the new jobs in America and helping these firms export is vital to continued US economic growth," she said.

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