The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) office in Bangkok recently facilitated the first U.S. export to Thailand using the Trade Lead System (TLS), a new, automated system designed to match foreign buyers with U.S. exporters.

Bob Simon, general manager for Nova Fishery, Inc.: Trade Success to Thailand (12/13/10 - mp3)

Through a lead generated by the system, Gourmet One Food Service Co., Thailand’s major fine food supplier, purchased $51,500 of Alaskan king crab and southern red king crab from Nova Fishery of Seattle, Washington.

The FAS office in Bangkok receives more than 50 requests each year from local importers who are interested in new U.S. products. Prior to the introduction of the TLS in July 2010, FAS would provide potential buyers with listings of U.S. suppliers, but the buyer would have to contact each of the suppliers directly – an often tedious process. The TLS streamlines the process by allowing the buyer to submit a single request and receive direct responses from interested suppliers.
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