Operated out of USAID's Office of Business Development, the Global Technology Network (GTN) assists small businesses in developing countries to form partnerships with U.S. companies. GTN partners are linked together with an Internet-based communications and trade lead system that facilitates their collaboration. GTN focuses primarily on agriculture, communications and information technology, environment and energy, and health technology.

HOW DOES THE GTN PROGRAM WORK?

GTN matches the needs of a company in a developing country with U.S. firms equipped to provide the appropriate technological solutions. Business opportunities are identified and tracked by a network of in-country partner organizations and individuals. The information is transmitted to GTN in Washington where it is evaluated, matched, and electronically disseminated to U.S. firms registered in GTN's databases.

Here are some of the success stories.

A Singaporean ministry purchased $850,000 in odor control equipment from a company in Minnesota.

A New Jersey information technology firm entered into partnership with a Cameroonian company to supply satellite equipment to 25 cities.

A Chilean company bought $350,000 of food and dairy processing equipment from a corporation in Ohio for distribution throughout Chile.

A company in California secured a $280,000 contract to sell pollution monitoring equipment to a Korean firm.

A Missouri import-export company established an memorandum of understanding with a Ugandan firm to supply water pipes worth more than $1.3 million.

A Montana company exported $100,000 in compact wastewater treatment equipment to Colombia.

GTN TRAVEL GRANTS

A small travel grant program supports firms pursuing information on possible GTN partnerships. GTN grants are available for both developing country and U.S. entrepreneurs. GTN grants can be used to fund travel, equipment and product demonstrations, and other approved activities up to $5,000.

BUSINESS SUPPORT CENTERS

GTN works with USAID missions to establish in-country business support centers (BSCs) to provide local business services and market linkages. The BSCs assist small and medium-size enterprises in developing countries gain access to U.S. technology, products, and services to compete effectively in local, regional, and global markets. The BSCs typically are located in the offices of the national chambers of commerce in developing countries.

GTN BUSINESS OUTREACH

Follow-up on potential business deals, as well as information on general USAID procurement, is provided through USAID outreach offices in California, Florida, Illinois, and Washington. Additional outreach is provided through the U.S. Export Assistance Centers and 30 state trade partner organizations located in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C.

GTN REGIONAL TRADE INITIATIVES

GTN provides electronic commerce linkages that facilitate domestic and regional trade in USAID-assisted regions worldwide. With USAID regional bureau or mission funding, GTN will install an electronic trade opportunity matching system and a communications network in selected host-country organizations and will train local staff on their use. The GTN regional initiative complements USAID strategic objectives by creating a permanent link to domestic, regional, and U.S. markets.

GTN TRADE MISSION SERVICES

GTN trade mission services, which include sector briefings and networking support to USAID field missions and domestic partners, is provided in cooperation with other U.S. and multilateral agencies. Trade missions are held at USAID offices in the International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Similar services are available for incoming GTN trade delegations sponsored by USAID missions and U.S. embassies abroad, foreign embassies, or other GTN partner organizations.

In 2000, GTN is participating in trade missions in Argentina, Mauritius, Nigeria, Tunisia and Egypt among other places. GTN says Nigeria's new leadership under President Olusegun Obasanjo is committed to privatizing many state-owned companies. "With more than 110 million people, Nigeria is a huge market that remains largely untapped by American companies," a GTN statement said.

GTN COUNTRIES OF OPERATION

Asia and the Near East: Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Morocco, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan.

Africa: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay.

Eastern Europe and NIS: Armenia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia.

Global Technology Network
1629 K Street, N.W., Suite 1000
Washington, D.C. 20006
Tel. 800-872-4348
Fax: 202-466-4597
Internet: http://www.usgtn.org/