U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE RELEASES DATA ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKETS FOR BUSINESSES
Report Highlights Market Opportunities in Germany and France

The U.S. Department of Commerce today released the ExportIT Western Europe report that highlights opportunities in Germany and France for U.S. information technology and telecommunications companies.

"Expanding trade is a top priority of the Bush Administration," said Linda Conlin, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Trade Development. "The ExportIT Western Europe report falls right in line with this priority as it provides U.S. businesses invaluable information on how to access two of Western Europe's largest IT and telecommunications markets."

The ExportIT Western Europe report is the latest in a series of reports that analyze trends, key issues, and events in information technology, telecommunications, Internet, and e-commerce in other countries to help U.S. small and medium-sized businesses make educated decisions about entering international markets.

These reports also highlight market opportunities and provide suggested market entry strategies, including descriptions of Commerce's export assistance programs as well as a list of key contacts in the United States and in other countries to assist U.S. firms in exporting.

Commerce's international trade specialists conduct in-country market research and analysis by interviewing representatives of computer hardware, software, telecommunications equipment and services, and Internet companies, trade associations, industry analysts, and government officials.

Western Europe is the largest regional market for IT and telecommunications products and services outside of North America, and its use of e-commerce is rapidly growing. Germany and France are the first and third largest IT and telecommunications markets in Western Europe.

The ExportIT reports are available online at: http://ExportIT.ita.doc.gov. A report on China will be released in the near future.

The Office of Trade Development (TD) at the U.S. Department of Commerce offers U.S. businesses resources and services for all stages of the exporting process. With industry-focused experts to provide strategic research and analysis, TD helps small and large U.S. businesses access the global marketplace. TD also administers 1-800-USA-TRADE, a nationwide hotline available to companies seeking government export assistance and counseling.