Programs & Services

• Intl. Trade Home

• Export Working Capital

  Eligibility Requirements
  Loan Disbursements
  Collateral

• Buyer Financing

• Export Credit Insurance

  Single Buyer
  Multi-Buyer

• Foreign Direct Investment

• Worldwide Credit Reports

• Foreign Trade Zones

• Forms

  U.S. SBA/Ex-IM Bank of the U.S. Joint Application for Working Capital Guarantee

  Application For Medium Term Export Credit Insurance Quotation Application

  Single Buyer Application

  Multi-Buyer Application

Introduction

ECIDA has the products, professional contacts and expertise to reduce risk for any Western New York company doing business overseas. We're the only agency in the country that is an approved Ex-Im Bank broker and Delegated Authority Lender.

Export Working Capital

A City/State Partner of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), our staff of professionals has been highly trained on all of Ex-Im Bank’s programs. In effect, we are a regional marketing arm of Ex-Im Bank, whose mission is to

"Provide U.S. exporters with 'cutting-edge' financing solutions to increase their sales."

Working Capital Guarantees through the Ex-Im Bank or the SBA (U.S. Small Business Administration) enable U.S. companies to obtain loans to produce goods or provide a service for export. We will assist your company with the application process, coordinate requirements with your local bank, package the application, and follow up with Ex-Im Bank or the SBA until your financing is approved.

Buyer Financing

Exporters can aid their customers in getting medium term financing (1-7 years) to purchase their products through the Ex-Im Bank Medium Guarantee program. This program allows foreign buyers to pay for large purchases (approximately $500,000 or more) over several years while the US exporter receives payment after shipping.

Export Credit Insurance

We broker both private-sector and Ex-Im Bank Export Credit Insurance, to protect your company against foreign buyer default due to political and commercial risk. Insurance can also help you to:

• Provide credit terms to foreign buyers that could increase sales.
• Eliminate most risk of non-payment by the foreign buyer.
• Increase your company’s borrowing capacity and cash flow.

Foreign Direct Investment

We work with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to help provide financing for foreign direct investment, including new investments, privatizations, expansions, modernizations, formation of a new branch or sales office, and warehousing or small assembly operations. OPIC also can provide insurance to protect those overseas investments.

Worldwide Credit Reports

ECIDA is a distributor of credit reports for Coface Business Systems, a worldwide leader in credit information. We offer comprehensive, high quality credit reports on domestic or international companies at a substantial discount over retail rates.

Foreign Trade Zones

The ECIDA administers Foreign Trade Zone #23 for Erie County. Foreign Trade Zones benefit companies by allowing them to bring product into the United States without paying US duty while the product remains in the FTZ. US duty is paid only when the product when leaves the zone and is sent to a domestic customer. If the product is re-exported then US duty is never paid. If the product in the FTZ is altered by assembly or through a manufacturing process, then a new duty rate may be assigned.

Trade Missions

We periodically conduct trade missions to assist WNY companies in entering foreign markets through direct contact and one-on-one meetings with prospective business partners or clients in market sectors with promising export potential.