Now’s the Time to Plan Your International Marketing for 2022

Beth Pomper

Get STEP Grant funds to help!

Now is the time to craft your international marketing and export development strategy for 2022. Trade shows such as Arab Health and Hannover Messe will host in-person exhibition halls once again. Many of the EU nations are welcoming vaccinated US travelers. The global business community is optimistic that we can return to a “sense of normalcy” in business development activities next year.

As the State’s official export resource for Delaware’s small and medium-sized businesses, Export Delaware invites you to look ahead and plan your export-related business development activities. Your organization may be eligible for the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant to help cover the costs associated with exporting activities. Grant funds can be used to reimburse Delaware businesses for up to 50 percent of all pre-approved, eligible export marketing expenses, up to a maximum of $7,000 per fiscal year, per company.

Here are a few examples of how you can use a STEP grant award:

• Exhibit at an international trade show in 2022
• Translate your website and marketing material
• Optimize your website for a global market
• Pay for compliance testing
• Cover a portion of EXIM credit insurance
• Travel to visit foreign customers/distributors
• And so much more (check the full list of eligible activities on our website)

If you would like to apply for STEP grant funds for activities planned for 2022, the time is now. Download and complete the STEP grant application here and send it back to us at your earliest convenience.

State-Led Business Trips:

Export Delaware is hosting two upcoming business development trips in Q1 of 2022 to help Delaware small businesses enter new markets. First, we are headed to the United Arab Emirates and Israel. Next, we plan to go to Kenya and Tanzania in March 2022.

The purpose of these trips is to meet with potential customers, distributors, and partners to develop new export business in these nations. Meeting face-to-face with prospective customers is critical to establishing new business relationships around the world. The Export Delaware team will arrange business meetings with distributors, agents, or customers according to each company’s unique, specific needs.

Spots to participate in these trips have filled up in a matter of days! Later in the year, Export Delaware plans to host trips to Japan, South Korea, Morocco, and potentially Chile and Peru. If you are interested in participating in a future state-led business trip, email the Export Delaware team at export@delaware.gov.