Bob McEntire and Barbara Banas are International Trade Specialists in the International Trade Administration’s Office of Strategic Partnerships.

A record number of American businesses are now exporting, but there are so many others that could be selling their products and services overseas. Many that are currently exporting could be exporting to even more markets.

Here at the International Trade Administration, we work directly with businesses all over the country to help them start exporting or increase exports. One key tool in our mission to help U.S. companies compete abroad is our Strategic Partnerships Program.

This Program is a public/private partnership through which we work with some of America’s leading companies to promote exports. These companies help ITA get the word out about our services, and our partners get some extra subject matter expertise in the field of exporting.

It’s a win-win for all the organizations involved, and it helps support the President’s National Export Initiative goal to double U.S. exports by the end of 2014.

These partnerships are especially important during World Trade Month, when we take the opportunity to recognize the success that comes from them. All of our partners are helping support the U.S. economy and we appreciate the success stories they’re sharing, like this one from UPS.

In the near future, we’ll bring you more news from our partners as we all cooperate to increase American exports and help shape America’s economy of the future – one in which even more of our businesses are tapping markets overseas and supporting jobs here at home.

We are always looking for more strategic partners. Please let us know if your business would like to work with us.