Promote:
Find public support
The organizations that help companies export from and invest in North Carolina, grouped by what you need. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
1. Where to start
EDPNC, NC Commerce and Commercial Service Raleigh: the guide’s first stops, of the 13 organizations below.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
State economic development partnership
EDPNC
Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
Runs the state international trade team, which helps companies enter markets, find distributors and use the State Trade Expansion Program.
Visit EDPNC (opens in a new tab)Source: Economic Development Partnership, export assistance page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
State commerce department
NC Commerce
North Carolina Department of Commerce
Leads state economic development and builds ties with foreign investors, as in its October 2026 partnership work with Japan.
Visit NC Commerce (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Commerce, press release, October 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 28, 2026
Federal export assistance office
Commercial Service Raleigh
U.S. Commercial Service North Carolina, Raleigh office
Co-hosts export education with the North Carolina District Export Council, such as Export University 101, and counsels companies on exporting.
2. Export development and market information
5 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
State economic development partnership
EDPNC
Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina
Runs the state international trade team, which helps companies enter markets, find distributors and use the State Trade Expansion Program.
Visit EDPNC (opens in a new tab)Source: Economic Development Partnership, export assistance page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Federal export assistance office
Commercial Service Raleigh
U.S. Commercial Service North Carolina, Raleigh office
Co-hosts export education with the North Carolina District Export Council, such as Export University 101, and counsels companies on exporting.
- Meet requirements
Regional food export association
SUSTA
Southern United States Trade Association
Regional body
Runs trade missions and trade show pavilions for southern food and agricultural companies and reimburses half of eligible international marketing costs.
Visit SUSTA (opens in a new tab)Source: Southern United States Trade Association, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Get advice
University small business advisory center
SBTDC
North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center
Sends representatives to the Go Global Road Show meetings for companies that export or are export-ready, alongside state and federal trade staff.
Visit SBTDC (opens in a new tab)Source: Community College System, release, March 20, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of March 20, 2025
Community college business counseling network
Small Business Center Network
North Carolina Community College System, Small Business Center Network
Gives free one-on-one business counseling and training, including for companies considering international trade.
3. Investment and business setup
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
State commerce department
NC Commerce
North Carolina Department of Commerce
Leads state economic development and builds ties with foreign investors, as in its October 2026 partnership work with Japan.
Visit NC Commerce (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Commerce, press release, October 28, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 28, 2026
State unemployment insurance agency
Employment Security
North Carolina Division of Employment Security
Registers employers for unemployment insurance tax and runs NCSUITS, where employers file wage reports and pay tax.
Visit Employment Security (opens in a new tab)Source: Division of Employment Security, NCSUITS page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
4. Customs and tax
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
State tax authority
NCDOR
North Carolina Department of Revenue
Registers businesses for state tax accounts and publishes corporate income and franchise tax rates and guidance on tax law changes.
Visit NCDOR (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Revenue, register a business (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
State ports authority
NC Ports
North Carolina State Ports Authority
Operates the deep-water ports of Wilmington and Morehead City and an inland port in Charlotte.
Visit NC Ports (opens in a new tab)Source: North Carolina Ports, fast facts (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
5. Standards and sector requirements
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
State agriculture department
NCDA&CS
North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Runs an International Marketing team for farm and food exporters and issues phytosanitary certificates for plant exports.
Visit NCDA&CS (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Agriculture, International Marketing page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
State insurance regulator
Insurance Department
North Carolina Department of Insurance
Licenses insurers domiciled in other states to write business in North Carolina and sets their statutory deposits.
Visit Insurance Department (opens in a new tab)Source: Department of Insurance, foreign insurance companies (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Meet requirements
State real estate licensing board
Real Estate Commission
North Carolina Real Estate Commission
Licenses real estate brokers and is preparing the buyer affidavit form and military-installation map under the state's farmland and military land law.
6. Chambers and industry associations
1 organization. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
District export council
North Carolina DEC
North Carolina District Export Council
Offers free mentoring to North Carolina companies on exporting, from business leaders appointed by the Secretary of Commerce.
Visit North Carolina DEC (opens in a new tab)Source: North Carolina District Export Council, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
7. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
- Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
- Compare the United States with other countriesSet the United States beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your North Carolina project.
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Promote:North Carolina is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 4, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.