Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Export Promotion

Trade promotion (sometimes referred to as export promotion) is an umbrella term for economic policies, development interventions and private initiatives aimed at improving the trade performance of an economic area. Such an economic area can include just one country, a region within a country, or a group of countries involved in an economic trade area. Specific industries may be targeted. Improvement is mainly sought by increasing exports both in absolute terms and relative to imports. When specific industries are targeted, trade promotion policies tend to target industries that have a comparative advantage over their foreign competitors. Trade promotion can also include expanding the supply of key inputs in a country's strongest industries, via import expansion. If successful, such a tactic would lead to pro-trade biased growth.

If you are looking for export opportunities, you’ve come to the right place. The Office of Export Promotion works with New Jersey’s small and mid-sized companies interested in expanding sales and their customer base for products and services through export. Companies interested in global business activity can tap into a number of resources on business export planning available through the NJBAC’s Office of Export Promotion.

The Office of Export Promotion

Created within the Department of State’s Business Action Center (BAC), the Office of Export Promotion’s mission is to assist domestic New Jersey businesses with export opportunities. It is responsible for managing all aspects of export promotion activities along with establishing and maintaining positive working relationships. This Department provides the business community with a single point of contact, applying a proactive and customer-service approach to businesses’ interactions with State government.

The Office of Export Promotion (OEP) administers the NJ STEP Grant through a competitive, first come, first served basis. This grant is funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). New Jersey has been awarded STEP funding since 2012 and has advised and assisted thousands of businesses, supporting millions of dollars of export sales, and created and retained thousands of NJ jobs.

The Office of Export Promotion connects small to mid-sized businesses with government agencies, assists with introductions to appropriate officials, facilitates meetings and follow-ups with regulatory agencies, just to name a few. These services are all at no cost to the companies and strictly confidential. We will work with entrepreneurs just getting started or a corporate executive looking to expand and everything in between.

Millions of potential customers around the world are waiting for your goods and services. Ninety-five percent of customers to the United States are outside of the country!

The International Business Advocates:

• Assist you in identifying global business opportunities and developing an export plan.
• Guide you through customs regulations and procedures.
• Advise you on the finer details of exporting once you’ve entered the global marketplace.
• Connect you with federal resources available abroad.
• Support you through the application of NJ STEP
• Provide you with a suite of services that have received the President’s “E Star” Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Nation’s highest honor for export excellence recognizing organizations that contribute significantly in the effort to increase U.S. exports.

President’s “E Star” Service Award (2017, 2024)

The President's “E” Award was created by Executive Order of the President in 1961 to recognize persons, firms or organizations which contribute significantly in the effort to increase U.S. exports. The President's “E Star” Award, which was authorized by the Secretary of Commerce, affords continuing recognition of noteworthy export promotion efforts. The President’s “E” Award is the highest recognition a U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. Exports.

The New Jersey Business Action Center (NJ BAC) is an integral part of the Governor’s “fairer and stronger” economic agenda focused on helping businesses grow. The NJBAC is a business-first resource that can help you get answers from government agencies, all at no cost and strictly confidential.

Located within the New Jersey Department of State, the NJBAC is a business advocacy team dedicated to solving problems and maximizing growth opportunities for businesses of all sizes.

Interested in Becoming an Exporter or Expanding Your Exports?

If you’re looking for export opportunities you’ve come to the right place. The Office of Export Promotion works with New Jersey’s small and mid-sized companies interested in expanding sales and their customer base for your products and services through export. Companies interested in global business activity can tap into a number of resources on business export planning available through the NJBAC Export Promotion unit.