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Empowering Business and Entrepreneurship Abroad

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The Office of Commercial and Business Affairs (CBA), led by Special Representative Ziad Haider, is the State Department’s gateway for American businesses overseas. Our mission is to engage U.S. government resources to assist and advocate for U.S. business interests abroad, strengthen intellectual property enforcement, promote a vibrant ecosystem for entrepreneurship and innovation, and ensure U.S. private sector concerns are integrated into our foreign and economic policy.

1/7 State Department Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Ziad Haider speaks at Lee Kuan Yew University in Singapore on the US-ASEAN economic partnership.
State Dept Image / Nov 08, 2016
2/7 Special Representative Ziad Haider speaks to Indian reporters about the American Innovation Roadshow
Special Representative Ziad Haider speaks to Indian reporters about the American Innovation Roadshow
State Dept Image / Mar 08, 2016
3/7 Joining other State Department officials, Special Representative Haider meets with private sector representatives to review opportunities for U.S. industry in M.E.N.A & S.E. Asia.
Joining other State Department officials, Special Representative Haider meets with private sector representatives to review opportunities for U.S. industry in M.E.N.A & S.E. Asia.
State Dept Image / Mar 22, 2016
4/7 Special Representative Haider discusses Rule of Law in Emerging Markets at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce meeting in Washington, DC.
Special Representative Haider discusses Rule of Law in Emerging Markets at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce meeting in Washington, DC.
State Dept Image / Apr 06, 2016
5/7 Speaking to American Chamber of Commerce members in Beijing, Special Representative Haider outlines US-Asia Pacific economic engagement and priorities.
Speaking to American Chamber of Commerce members in Beijing, Special Representative Haider outlines US-Asia Pacific economic engagement and priorities.
State Dept Image / Apr 14, 2016
6/7 Special Representative Haider outlines the goals of U.S. engagement in ASEAN at the East West Center in Washington, DC
Special Representative Haider outlines the goals of U.S. engagement in ASEAN at the East West Center in Washington, DC
State Dept Image / May 04, 2016
7/7 Meeting with Tunisian & U.S. officials and business representatives, Special Representative Haider leads a discussion on Building a Modern SME Ecosystem in Tunisia.
Meeting with Tunisian & U.S. officials  and business representatives, Special Representative Haider leads a discussion on Building a Modern SME Ecosystem in Tunisia
State Dept Image / May 05, 2016

Commercial Diplomacy:
CBA coordinates State Department advocacy on behalf of American businesses. We provide assistance in opening markets, leveling the playing field, protecting intellectual property rights, and resolving trade and investment disputes. CBA works with U.S. Government trade promotion partners and U.S. embassies around the world to support American businesses overseas by providing commercial information and identifying market opportunities for American firms, advocating on their behalf, engaging them via teleconference with U.S. Ambassadors overseas, and encouraging corporate social responsibility. CBA can answer your questions and provide information on important issues such as dealing with corruption and bribery in overseas markets, U.S. export controls on sensitive equipment and technologies, and business-related visas for employees, partners and clients of U.S. firms.

Entrepreneurship:

To advance entrepreneurship promotion abroad, Global Entrepreneurship Program (GEP) works with U.S. embassies and partners to promote new programs, such as generating new angel investment networks, entrepreneurship delegations, mentoring collaborations, global celebrations, and incorporating the women’s entrepreneurship portfolio in order to promote the success of potential high growth, high impact women-owned enterprises.

GEP plays a key role in planning, organizing, and implementing President Obama’s Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), which aims to showcase inspiring entrepreneurs and investors from around the world creating new opportunities for investment, partnership, and collaboration. This year’s Summit in Silicon Valley includes a wide range of breakout sessions, masterclasses, pitch competitions, and networking sessions designed to give participants tailored opportunities to gain skills and relationships that will help their ventures grow. Learn more about GES 2016 by visiting www.GES2016.org.

CBA's GEP is a vehicle to catalyze, coordinate, and convene with both non-government partners (such as NGOs, universities, foundations and the private sector) and U.S. government programs, principally with Department of Commerce, USAID, OPIC, SBA and the Millennium Challenge Corporation.