U.S. Government Resources

• Department of Commerce: The Commerce Department’s mission is to help make American businesses more innovative at home and more competitive abroad. It works to strengthen the international economic position of the United States and facilitates global trade by opening up new markets for U.S. goods and services.
• Export.gov: Brings together resources from across the U.S. Government to assist American businesses in planning their international sales strategies and succeed in today’s global marketplace. Export.gov also hosts information on the National Export Initiative.
• Export Import Bank of the United States: The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank’s mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets.
• National IPR Center: The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) stands at the forefront of the U.S. government’s response to global intellectual property (IP) theft.
• Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR):  USTR negotiate directly with foreign governments to create trade agreements, to resolve disputes, and to participate in global trade policy issues.
• Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC):  OPIC is the U.S. Government’s development finance institution.  It works with the U.S. private sector.  OPIC achieves its mission by providing investors with financing, guarantees, political risk insurance, and support for private equity investment funds.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides support to U.S. small businesses and small –business owners across the nation through capital (loans), access to federal contracts, and counseling.
• U.S. Commercial Service:  US Commercial Service offers a range of services focused on assisting exporters explore foreign markets. Services such as the International Company Profile (ICP), Gold key Service (GKS) and Agent Distributor Search (ADS) have proved useful to US companies enter foreign markets.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture:
• U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service
• U.S. Trade and Development Agency: USTDA is an independent U.S. Government foreign assistance agency that is funded by the U.S. Congress. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions while creating sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in partner countries.
• United States International Trade Commission: Tariff rates in the United States can be obtained from the Harmonized Traff Schedule (HTS).
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection: responsibility for securing and facilitating trade and travel while enforcing hundreds of U.S. regulations, including immigration and drug laws.
• The State International Developments, Inc.: An organization that supports state international trade agencies provides a directory of contacts within each state’s trade or commerce office.
• The Department of State Business Visa Center
• Department of State Office of Commercial and Business Affairs
  
• U.S. Departmentof Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security
• Department of State Office of Political-Military Affairs Directorate of Defense Trade Controls

Other Resources

• AmChams: AmChams advance the interests of American business overseas.  They are voluntary associations of American companies and individuals doing business in a particular country, as well as firms and individuals of that country who operate in the U.S.  Currently, 115 AmChams in 102 countries are affiliated with U.S. AmCham.  Listings of AmChams and contact information by region of interest or country are also available.

Resources in Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka Board of Investment (BOI): The BOI is the central facilitation point for investors.
• Sri Lanka Department of Information: official government news portal.
• Sri Lanka Department of Immigration and Emigration: Information on visas, passports, citizenship and border management.
• Sri Lanka Ministry of External Affairs: information on foreign policy, consular services and foreign missions.
• Sri Lanka Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs: information on investment, tourism, regional and rural development can be found on this web site.
• Sri Lanka Department of Commerce (DOC): The DOC is responsible for foreign trade policy formulation and all related coordination and implementation matters, with the objective of developing and promoting Sri Lanka’s foreign trade relations at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.
• Central Bank of Sri Lanka: Information on the monetary policy, currency management and statistics.
• Sri Lanka Customs:  Applicable tariff rates in Sri Lanka can be obtained from this site.
• Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority: Information on Tourism and Tourist Development projects.
• Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC): the legendry institution in the Asia Pacific region has years of exemplary service to the business community in Sri Lanka. CCC, being the first Chamber to be established is the prime mover of the Chamber movement in Sri Lanka. CCC maintains a close rapport with the Government sector and continues to strengthen its role as a channel between the Government and the Private sector.
• Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL): Maintains the lead as business solution provider through research, interactions with the government and through global networking. FCCISL is the most widely spread business organization with member bodies from all districts and provinces of Sri Lanka.
• National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka: A leading trade and industrial promotion body in the island. The Chamber is the focal point for member companies representing virtually the entire spectrum of industry, trade and commerce in Sri Lanka.
• Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCIC): A non-profit organization of professional women and women in business and management, to promote the special interests of women entrepreneurs. WCIC is the first women-only Trade Chamber to be set up in Sri Lanka in 1985 and the first in the world.
• Lanka Business online: An online financial news service. It provides up-to-the minute financial news, economic developments and analysis.

Resources in the Maldives 

• Invest Maldives: The government agency entrusted with promoting, regulating and licensing foreign investments in the country is the first port of call for all foreigners keen to invest in the Maldives. The process of registering a foreign investment, as required by Law, is simple and straight forward.
• Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI): non-governmental, nonprofit organization formed for the purpose of promoting tourism in the Maldives.
• Maldives National Chamber of Commerce (MNCCI): Members of MNCCI are persons engaged in commercial activities and those involved in developing trade and all other associated with trade or in service.