Northern California District Export Council

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District Export Councils are organizations of business leaders from local communities, appointed by various U.S. Secretaries of Commerce, whose knowledge of and expertise in international business provides a source of professional advice for their region’s local firms. Closely affiliated with the U.S. Commerce Department’s Export Assistance Centers and the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, over 60 DECs that exist throughout the country support the U.S. Government’s export promotion efforts.

In addition, DECs play a major role in the planning and coordination of export activities for their communities. As a lead organization serving the international business community, DECs have the capacity to facilitate the development of an effective export assistance network and can assist in coordinating the activities of trade assistance partners to leverage available resources. DECs also serve as a communications link between the business community and the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service and support the export expansion activities of the U.S. Commerce Department in a variety of ways within their communities.

While DECs are a creation of the U.S. Government and individual DEC members receive governmental appointments. Neither DECs nor DEC members represent the U.S. Government in their capacity as DECs or as DEC members, respectively.