
Who we are
Trade Promotion Europe (TPE) is the European association representing national and regional trade and agrifood promotion organizations. Our mission is to strengthen European trade by improving coordination, sharing knowledge, and fostering collaboration.
💡WHO ARE OUR MEMBERS?
Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) help businesses expand beyond their home markets by supporting their international growth within the EU Single Market and globally.
Agrifood Promotion Organizations (APOs) focus specifically on promoting national agri-food businesses, both within the EU Single Market and in international markets.
Both TPOs and APOs typically operate under the mandate of their national governments or industry stakeholders, ensuring their efforts align with broader economic and trade policies.
TPE members offer a variety of services to European companies, , including capacity building for internationalisation, information and competitive intelligence, promotion services, as well as investment services. In 2023, TPE members have served over 88.000 companies, with more than 50% being SMEs.
💡WHAT IS “TRADE PROMOTION EUROPE”
TPE unites TPOs and APOs to work together and strengthen Europe’s role in global trade. We provide a platform for collaboration, learning, and knowledge sharing, helping our members better support their stakeholders—from Europe’s 25 million small and medium-sized enterprises to EU policymakers.
Trade Promotion Europe connects its members with EU institutions to foster meaningful dialogue and drive Europe’s trade ambitions forward. Advancing commercial goals while supporting exporters requires a unified voice to turn ideas into action and policy into practice. Trade Promotion Europe is that voice.
Mission, vision and values
What makes us unique?
Trade Promotion Europe is a unique network dedicated to the internationalization of SMEs. Our members focus mostly on helping SMEs expand into international markets through trade promotion activities, making this their core mission.
Many of our members have a dual presence, operating both in their home Member State as the first point of contact for SMEs and through a network of offices across the EU and in third countries. This structure ensures direct and continuous support for businesses looking to grow beyond their domestic markets.
Together, our members have over 80 offices in their home countries and over 600 offices abroad. Our network brings together more than 7,000 full-time professionals, working to strengthen European trade and support SME internationalization.
Objectives
Promote and represent our members across Europe
To promote and represent our members’ interests at the European level, we actively engage with EU institutions and relevant authorities, conveying their perspectives, insights, and concerns.
Our core message is clear: Europe needs greater synergy in support instruments for SME internationalization. Through ongoing dialogue with key political and economic institutions, we work to streamline and enhance these support mechanisms across the EU.
Foster and enable ever-closer collaboration
TPOs and APOs play a key role in driving the EU’s economic growth through international trade. Their impact can be even greater when they collaborate—both with each other and with European institutions!
To nurture these collaborations:
💡We develop and carry out projects in the shared interests of our members. These projects include responding to EU calls for tender or proposal.
💡We organize internal and external meetings to share knowledge and boost networking. Initiatives range from seminars and conferences to any type of event capable of supporting both our purpose and our members’ interests.
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