Welcome to the International Trade Center
Helping California small and medium businesses grow sales overseas.
82% of online shoppers have made at least one purchase from a merchant abroad.
Our mission is to leverage digital services and tools to empower SMBs to grow sales in overseas markets.
Global cross-border ecommerce sales are expected to grow by 27% each year, reaching $1 trillion in sales by 2020. The continued and growing success of small businesses hinges on increasing international sales.
Currently, skills in enhancing online sales to reach a global customers are lacking. Approximately 74% of small to mid-size business owners admit they are not prepared to optimize their ecommerce platforms yet admit the need and desire to do so.
What We do
Promote ecommerce and digital trade
The CITC promotes ecommerce and digital trade as the primary mechanism by which small and mid-size businesses enter foreign markets.
Provide information and technical support
The CITC provides the information and technical support businesses need for increased online sales domestically and overseas.
Provide knowledge, training, and expertise
The CITC provides the knowledge, training, consulting and expertise necessary for California companies to succeed in selling more online, overseas.
Support a globally fluent workforce
The CITC supports a globally fluent workforce by connecting the California Community Colleges to work-based learning and internships that allow direct impact on domestic businesses using digital trade for the sale of goods and services to customers globally.
Offer companies greater visibility on theopportunity
The CITC offers companies greater visibility as to their global opportunity and understanding of digital trade services and tools.
Discover digital tools to help you address your global opportunity
The CITC has created a digital toolkit to help California exporters solve the multiples puzzles that are part of any internationalization strategy. From improving your website to conducting due diligence on a potential buyer abroad, our tools are free and simple to use.
Explore financing and grant options to fuel your global expansion
Our team of consultants can help you identify the various financing options that are available to your company. They can help you qualify and apply to grants, small business loans, and keep you informed of the new financing avenues that become available to you over time.
Our Initiatives
Economic Development
Growing Exports for California Small and Mid-size Businesses
CITC provides digital trade leadership and is partnered with the Small Business Development Centers, U.S. Export Assistance Centers and other in-field providers to serve business in understanding cross-border ecommerce as the primary mechanism by which small to mid-size companies achieve global sales growth.
Workforce Development
Developing Digital Fluency and Global Competency
The California Community Colleges are developing a globally competitive workforce. Through partnerships with regional colleges, the CITC supports outcome-driven results for business with internships and work-based learning programs that provide real global trade experience to college students.
Our Partners
