the ITA's function is "to encourage, assist, and advocate U.S. exports... to ensure U.S. business has equal access to foreign markets...[and] to enable U.S. business to compete against unfairly traded imports..." This website contains a wealth of information, including descriptions of programs, current trade news, and extensive trade statistics.

The practice of material exchange is not new. However, many companies which have informally participated in exchanges of materials may not be aware that this service is available on a statewide level. This important method of networking can now be explored through directories or listings of materials on a statewide, regional and national scale. (A material exchange is a service which promotes the use of one company’s un-wanted material as another’s raw material. It is an information clearinghouse for available by-products, virgin products and other forms of unwanted industrial materials. A material exchange identifies both producers and markets for solid and hazardous materials.)

The Ohio Department of Development's International Trade Division (ITD) helps Ohio manufacturers and service providers capitalize on export opportunities. ITD accomplishes this through a professional and experienced staff of Ohio-based international trade advisors, who work closely with a network of 10 international offices around the world. ITD offers customized and comprehensive services that provide Ohio companies with market research, agent and distributor searches, export financing, and export documentation.