Multilateral Development Bank Operations Office
The U.S. Government entity responsible for assisting American businesses pursue MDB opportunities is the Multilateral Development Bank Operations (MDBO) office within the U.S and Foreign Commercial Service (US&FCS), a unit of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. US&FCS is committed to assisting U.S. firms in realizing their export potential by providing expert counseling and advice, information on markets abroad, international contacts, and advocacy services. Since 1993, MDBO and its MDB Counseling Center have supported U.S. companies’ interest in the MDBs by providing the business community with commercial information on MDB opportunities, individual counseling and guidance, on-line access to the MDBs, and business outreach around the United States.
MDBO=s experienced specialists are ready to explain the workings of these institutions, and how best to pursue procurement and financing opportunities from the MDBs. These specialists are backed up by US&FCS staff who actually work on-site at the MDBs. By working inside the MDBs, Commerce officials are able to develop intelligence on upcoming projects and financing programs, and relay accurate information to MDBO staff, the MDB Counseling Center, and U.S. companies.
MDBO staff also work closely with Commercial Service posts around the world. Project information provided by the Commercial Service compliments those resources offered by US&FCS liaison staff at the banks, thus enhancing the chances for U.S. companies to be successful.
The MDB Counseling Center is the Commerce Department’s centralized repository of electronic and hard copy information on the MDBs. In addition to basic brochures provided by each of the MDBs, the Counseling Center supplies specific project information and “how to” guides written by MDBO and commercial liaison staff. Additionally, the Counseling Center provides electronic access to MDB information via the Commerce Department’s National Trade Data Bank (NTDB), the monthly CD-ROM disk that contains the latest U.S. Government information on trade, international business, and exporting opportunities. There is a section on the NTDB devoted exclusively to the MDBs, which includes the Monthly Operational Summary from each bank. Electronic access to MDB information is also available through MDBO’s World Wide Web home page, which can be found at http://www.ita.doc.gov/mdbo. The MDBO home page is linked to the home pages of the various banks.
MDBO is ready to advise and direct U.S. firms to the resources needed to compete for tomorrow’s projects. For more information, contact:
Multilateral Development Bank Operations
International Trade Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
The USA Trade Center
Ronald Reagan Building
Washington, D.C. 20230
Tel: (202) 482-3399 or 1-800-USA Trade (1-800-872-8723)
Fax: (202) 482-3914
E-mail: MDBO.Banks@mail.doc.gov
Internet address: http://www.ita.doc.gov/mdbo