A nonpartisan, student-led affiliate of the Haas Center for Public Service

U.S. Commercial Service – Singapore

NOTE: Applications for this fellowship are due January 12th, 2025, at 11:59 PM, to account for a lengthy security clearance process.

Summer 2024 Fellow: N/A

Office Description:

The U.S. Commercial Service is the export promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. Our team helps U.S. companies find new international business partners in worldwide markets.a

Description of the Work

Interns typically conduct market research and assist in implementing customized solutions for U.S. companies interested in exporting to Singapore and through Singapore to the region. This includes supporting U.S. companies at trade shows/trade missions, individual company Gold Key visits, International Partnership Search, International Company Profiles, Single Company Promotions and other core USCS services.

Interns may be asked to support the Regional Commercial Officer for ASEAN in coordinating regional projects and program for the 10 ASEAN countries.

  • Business Matchmaking: Assist the Commercial Service Team in making business appointments according to the marketing objectives of the trade show/trade mission or individual business participant. This may include conducting extensive telephone calls and email campaigns and outside visits to interested parties (agents, distributors, buyers and joint venture partners).
  • Trade Events: Assists at trade events (trade missions, exhibitions, seminars, videoconferences, etc.), by helping to organize logistics and event/meeting schedules, preparing promotional materials, directory, market research, briefing materials, welcome kits and running the Business Information Office. After the trade event, assist in follow-up activities, such as responding to inquiries generated during the event, compiling contacts and entering new contacts into the SalesForce database.
  • Market Research: Responsible for small scale in-house research projects requested by U.S. clients that entails contacting trade associations, importers, and manufacturers. Works with Commercial Specialists to write one industry market brief. All market research activities are supervised by the responsible Commercial Specialist, who provides ongoing guidance on entities to contact, framework of research objective, and reviews the draft report before submission.
  • Commercial and Administrative Support: Maintains contact lists and contributes to the SalesForce database by updating and entering new client records and manipulating them to produce contact lists, mailing lists, and the like to be used for trade promotion events, trade opportunities, etc. In support of trade activities and events being promoted, assists with office support tasks such as copying and conducting Email broadcast campaigns.
 

Desired Skills

      • U.S. citizenship. Excellent written and oral communication skills.
      • Good working knowledge of computer skills.
      • Must be able to pass credit and background checks by the U.S. Government prior to starting the internship.