Trade Leads:

The following websites are just a few of the resources African businesses can use to either search or post information on the products or services they wish to sell.  Unless otherwise noted, the services provided by these websites are free.

African Resources Center - www.africanresourcescenter.com - a forum for business advancement and opportunity identification, and serves as a tool for disseminating information to African businesses. Interested clients can post their company profiles, trade inquiries and tenders on the website.

AfricanTrade.com - www.africantrade.com - an online international trading system designed to facilitate trade for importers, exporters and manufacturers worldwide. The website allows clients to post, view and respond to Trade Leads, Tenders and BTB Auctions. Website visitors can also identify trade opportunities, receive trade alerts and showcase products and services.

BidMix.com - www.bidmix.com - global Business-to-Business import/export services, including trade leads, trade resources, postings of trade information by topic, and a company listing. The website assists in selling clients' products or services and in locating suppliers and manufacturers globally.

BigEx.com - www.bigex.com - international trade exchange that matches buyers and sellers from around the world. The website contains information on importers, exporters, manufacturers, wholesalers and agents from the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America and Australia. Members can post products that they wish to buy or sell, receive e-mail inquiries from prospective trading partners, establish new customer and supplier relationships and chat online with other members.

BuySellEx.com - www.buysellex.com - dynamic auction application that provides world-wide business opportunities and e-commerce technology to its clients. The website also provides market research, business news, and company information.

Business Referral and Information Network (BRAIN) - www.brain.org.za - provides small business and medium-sized enterprises with an invaluable gateway to information on starting, managing and growing a business. BRAIN also provides opportunities and support for small business in South Africa.

Cyber Trade Center - www.cybertradecenter.com - the Cyber Trade Center provides information on business opportunities in import and export. The website provides services for importers, exporters and agents and includes trade information, advertisements, trade leads for buyers and sellers, and links to other international trade sites. Entry into the Cyber Trade Center is free.

Export Leads - www.export-leads.com/enter.htm  - monthly international newspaper featuring nearly 10,000 export sales opportunities a year. Most of these export sales leads are generated by direct contact from importers around the world, and through questionnaires sent to major active importing firms, requesting details of their current import requirements. A subscription to the trade leads service costs $135 per year outside of the United States and $95 per year within the United States.

Federation of International Trade Associations (FITA) - www.fita.org  - FITA affiliates include over 450 independent international associations. The associations include: world trade clubs, Chambers of Commerce, international logistics associations, international trade associations, exporter associations, and professional associations. The website also has a trade lead section.

Food Trader Exchange - www.foodtrader.com  - trade leads specific to the food and agriculture industry. The website provides business-to-business marketplace and e-procurement solutions for the food and agriculture industry.

Foreign Trade Online - www.foreign-trade.com - business-to-business web portal which assists manufacturers, exporters and companies planning to export, by providing foreign buyers with product and services information. The website also helps importers to locate their product sourcing from around the world.

Global Trade & Technology Network - www.usgtn.net - GTN is a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) program aimed at matching the technological needs of companies in developing countries with technical solutions. GTN facilitates the transfer of technology and services from the U.S. and other regional participants to countries worldwide through the dissemination of trade leads via e-mail. U.S. companies as well as companies in participating GTN countries in Africa and Southeast Europe may register with GTN to receive trade leads for free. GTN operates in 37 countries.

Global Trade Village (GTV) - www.globaltradevillage.com - international sourcing and procurement company linking U.S. and Canadian purchasers with international suppliers and manufacturers. GTV has the ability to source and deliver any product. International suppliers and manufacturers can become members of the GTV database.

Import Export International Business Help Center - http://www.importexporthelp.com/ - B2B resource website providing international business resources, including links to over 100 resources.

Import Leads/Export Leads - www.importleads.com - post trade leads for import or export free of charge. The website also provides a matchmaking service for companies.

Inkorpa - www.inkorpa.com - consulting services (for a fee) geared towards African companies trying to take advantage of AGOA. Inkorpa assists African companies in accessing U.S. government financing and finding U.S. distribution partners for the African private sector.

Intermeding - www.intermeding.com - a wide variety of services including, posting of trade leads, listings for the services industry, employment opportunities, manufacturer and agent database, joint venture and investment opportunities, advertisements, and website hosting.

International Business Forum - www.ibf.com - information about international business opportunities. The website is intended for companies wishing to export or expand into foreign markets as well as for those interested in acquiring products and services from other countries. In addition to business opportunities, the website includes a business directory and information on business resources, business associations, business meetings, and business education.

Mbendi - www.mbendi.co.za - Africa business website which contains extensive reference information on countries and industry sectors, particularly oil and gas, electrical power, chemicals, mining and telecommunications, supported by databases of companies, organizations, personalities, projects, facilities, events and publications. Interactive facilities are available to distribute tenders, trade enquiries, employment vacancies and business opportunities and to apply for finance and trade related services.

1jump.com - www.1jump.com - a company research tool which maintains a database of over 1 million companies. The database can be used to both find suppliers and target sales prospects. There is a $29.95 per month fee for the service.

Selectory - www.selectoryonline.com  -  a number of searchable databases are available on this website, organized by industry and/or state. The website includes marketing and business leads. There is a monthly subscription fee, or subscribers can buy access to one of the specialized databases for a yearly fee.

SignOnAfrica.com - www.signonafrica.com - offers access to a wide variety of African products. Available products are organized by product category, and buyers are able to post products that they are seeking.

Swiss Info Import-Export Bulletin Board - www.swissinfo.net  - members can post leads and access a broad range of offers compiled from a variety of trade lead sources. There is a fee for membership.  

Trade Port - www.tradeport.org  - comprehensive trade information, trade leads, and company databases. It is an international trade/defense conversion initiative of Baytrade, which focuses on export expansion in the greater San Francisco Bay area.

Trade World - www.tradeworld.net  - an Africa-specific source of trade leads, government tenders, and trade information that aims to connect African businesses with buyers and suppliers in other countries via the Internet. Fees vary by type of service. 

Trade Zone - www.tradezone.com - international trade services for manufacturers, importers and exporters, trade service businesses and opportunity seekers. The website lists international trade business opportunities, free import and export trade leads, a trade bulletin board, and traders' websites and website advertising services.

World Trade Point Federation (WTPF) - www.wtpfed.org - WTPF is a non-governmental organization registered in Geneva, Switzerland. It was organized under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Its objective is to facilitate access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to international markets. WTPF brings together Trade Points from around the world. A Trade Point is a source of trade related information, a trade facilitation center, and a gateway to the Global Trade Point Network. The website offers trade leads for SMEs through the Electronic Trading Opportunity (ETO) section. 

World Access Network of Directories (WAND) - www.wand.com  - offers trade directory technologies with a classification system of over 60,000 product and service types. The service provides trade leads and trade information for buyers and sellers in 16 languages.

WorldBid.com - www.worldbid.com - online international marketplace designed to help small to mid-sized companies conduct business. The website lists international trade leads from companies and government organizations around the world. Services include offers to buy and sell, e-mail trade notifications, company showroom allowing a company to showcase its product, international company directory, and trade and e-commerce resources.

WorldBizClub - www.wbc.com  - trade leads for buyers and sellers in a variety of sectors. Other services include product showcases, business consulting, general trade information, and trade matching. There are both free and fee-based services.

Matchmaker Programs (back to top):

Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) - www.africacncl.org  - The Corporate Council on Africa organizes two business linkage programs, the South Africa Business Linkage program and the West Africa Business Linkage program.  These programs help match African and American companies in a variety of industry sectors.  For more information, see the CCA website and click on B2B Linkages.               

Global Trade & Technology Network - www.usgtn.net - GTN is a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) program aimed at matching the technological needs of companies in developing countries with technical solutions. GTN facilitates the transfer of technology and services from the U.S. and other regional participants to countries worldwide through the dissemination of trade leads via e-mail. U.S. companies as well as companies in participating GTN countries in Africa and Southeast Europe may register with GTN to receive trade leads for free. GTN operates in 37 countries.

Interlink Capital Strategies - www.i-caps.com - Interlink Capital Strategies is a Washington, DC based consulting firm specializing in emerging market finance and business development. The company provides expertise in international project financing, trade financing, government advocacy, private equity, business development and marketing.

Uniworld Business Publications - www.uniworldbp.com - publishes directories of U.S. firms operating in foreign countries and directories of foreign firms operating in the U.S.

World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) - www.wtca.org - WTCA is an organization of nearly 300 World Trade Centers in almost 100 countries. The website is a one-stop trade information hub for posting and reviewing trade opportunities, and communicating with newly found business prospects. World Trade Centers can provide matchmaking services and lists of trade leads.