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Export Delaware

About Export Delaware

Your Partner for Global Business Success

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The official export resource for Delaware’s small businesses

If you are a new exporter or want to explore new markets, we can help you get started. Through personalized guidance, expert resources, and valuable connections, we make exporting accessible and achievable for companies of all sizes – even small businesses! Some of the most successful exporters are innovative small- and medium-sized businesses (which account for 98 percent of U.S. exporters). Businesses that export have faster-growing sales, create more jobs, and are less likely to go out of business than non-exporting establishments.

Empowering Delaware Businesses to Succeed Globally

Since our founding, we’ve supported hundreds of Delaware companies in navigating the complexities of international trade, building relationships with global buyers, and growing their businesses beyond borders.

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Our Mission: Helping Delaware Businesses Go Global

Our mission is simple: to empower Delaware businesses to compete and thrive in the global marketplace.

  • Provide Delaware companies with the tools they need to succeed internationally.
  • Connect businesses with foreign markets, buyers, and partners.
  • Remove barriers to exporting by offering training, funding, and support.

Our Team

Portrait of David Mathe's

David Máthé

Director of International Development

David Máthé is a seasoned economic development professional with over 30 years of experience in international trade, serving the State of Delaware. He is the Director of International Development, where he proactively assists small and medium-sized Delaware businesses in developing export markets and expanding global export volumes. He organizes and leads trade missions worldwide, promoting Delaware and assisting Delaware exporters in entering new markets. He manages Delaware’s Sister State relationships in Japan and India and organizes and manages Gubernatorial trade missions overseas. David is Past President of SIDO, the national organization under the umbrella of the Council of State Governments of state trade directors; a former member of the Mid Atlantic District Export Council; former chair of the Eastern Trade Council, a marketing initiative among the 10 Northeastern U.S. states and was the 2012 Class President of the Council of State Governments’ Eastern Leadership Academy.

Emma Pautler Headshot

Emma Pautler

Marketing Director

Emma Pautler is a communications specialist and project manager. She specializes in digital marketing and creates all the web and email communications for Export Delaware. She assists in the project management of the state’s SBA export grant and trade programs. Prior to her position with the Delaware Department of State, she worked with several small Delaware companies on business development, sales, and marketing. Emma holds a B.S. from the University of Delaware Alfred Learner College of Business and Economics.

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Trade Representatives

Browse the Directory

Our team of dedicated trade representatives offers unparalleled expertise and personalized guidance to connect your business with opportunities worldwide. 

What We Offer: Comprehensive Export Services for Your Business

  • Market studies from foreign trade representatives.
  • Access to foreign buyers and distributors via our international network.
  • International Business Trips are organized to connect Delaware businesses with partners overseas. 
  • Financial assistance, available through the Compass Grant, which offers eligible Delaware businesses grant money to expand exporting operations. 

Get Started

If you are a new exporter or want to explore new markets, we can help you get started.

  1. Schedule a Consultation
    • Talk to one of our international business development experts, who can walk you through the steps to get your business ready for the global marketplace. Contact Export Delaware
  2. Join Export Delaware on an International Business Trip
    • Meeting prospective customers face-to-face is critical to establishing new business relationships around the world. Export Delaware plans strategic trips to help you make the right contacts overseas and achieve new international sales. Business meetings with distributors, agents, or customers are scheduled according to your needs—all specific to your company. Check out the upcoming trips here.
  3. Utilize the Gold Key Service from the U.S. Department of Commerce
    • International business matchmaking is available through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Gold Key Service. International Trade Specialists work with counterparts in the 135 U.S. Embassies and Consulates overseas to assist businesses in their global sales efforts. To learn more, click here or contact Export Delaware.
  4. Participate in an Export Training to fast-track your export operations
    • Export Trainings are offered various times throughout the year. To learn more, contact Export Delaware.
  5. Optimize your website and turn it into a lead-generating machine
    • Export Delaware has partnered with IBT Online to help Delaware small businesses optimize their websites for specific international markets. To learn more, check out the Delaware Online Global Program here.

Why Work with Export Delaware?

Proven Results and Trusted Expertise

  • Track Record of Success: We’ve helped businesses expand into over 50 countries.
  • Personalized Approach: Every business gets custom support tailored to its unique goals.
  • Local and Global Impact: Supporting Delaware’s economy while building international connections.
  • Hear from our success stories: Read Testimonials

Export Delaware History

In 2014, Export Delaware was charged with expanding the State’s export program to offer more services and reach more Delaware small businesses. The first-ever Delaware strategic export plan was developed to determine where Delaware companies will have the most success overseas. Here’s a glimpse of what we’ve accomplished since then:

  • Supported more than 118 Delaware companies to grow their international sales. As a result of the activity, the participants have achieved $375 million in export sales and 105 Delaware jobs have been created (426 have been retained).
  • Hired over a dozen State of Delaware foreign trade offices serving 50 countries around the globe.
  • Planned numerous business development activities to help Delaware businesses penetrate the target markets, including international business trips, meetings with foreign trade representatives, seminars and education opportunities for Delaware companies, and many more local events.
  • Received 6 State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant awards from the Small Business Administration. Over the last several years, nearly $935,000 of grant funds have been distributed to assist Delaware companies in entering and developing markets.
  • Ranked in the top 8 state export programs nationally by the SBA for return on investment and results.
  • Launched the brand new Compass Grant to help Delaware small businesses navigate international business development through grant funding to support marketing and sales activity around the world.