Basque Trade & Investment

What Basque Trade & Investment does

Basque Trade & Investment (legal name: Agencia Vasca de Internacionalización-Basque Trade and Investment, S.A.) is a public agency established in 2018 under the Basque Government's industrial policy arm SPRI (Basque Agency for Business Development), headquartered in Bilbao, Spain. The agency functions as the single-window public provider of internationalization services for Basque companies, supporting their expansion into foreign markets through advisory, market intelligence, on-the-ground assistance, and talent training.

The agency's core service platform consists of a network of 22 international offices spanning more than 80 countries, providing local market access and partner introductions to Basque exporters. It runs the BEINT talent program, training 500+ young professionals annually with an alumni network exceeding 2,000, and the Basque Global Industry program (formerly Global Training), which launched a 2026 edition with 341 positions. Specialized products include the Observatory, a market intelligence service, and a tariff helpdesk supporting trade compliance.

The business model is publicly funded: services are provided free of charge to Basque companies, with the agency's operating budget drawn entirely from the Basque Government via SPRI. There is no commercial revenue stream, no pricing model, and no investor capital. The agency's scale and reach (22 offices, multiple continents, multi-sector coverage spanning bio-sciences, energy, and advanced manufacturing) make it a structural instrument of Basque regional trade policy rather than a market-driven enterprise.

Name

Basque Trade & Investment

Legal name

AGENCIA VASCA DE INTERNACIONALIZACIÓN-BASQUE TRADE AND INVESTMENT, S.A.

Website

https://basquetrade.eus

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Public agency owned by the Basque Government that provides free internationalization services to Basque companies through 22 international offices across 80+ countries, combining market intelligence, trade support, and talent training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Trade Promotion Services

NAICS

Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (425)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade-Related Infrastructure & Logistics Development (BPADAMAN)

Keywords

• Internationalization services
• Trade promotion
• Market entry support
• Export financing
• Sectoral advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Bilbao

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Basque Trade & Investment is the public agency of the Basque Government that delivers internationalization services to Basque companies. Its offering combines internationalization initiation diagnostics, international expansion and sales support (customer/agent/distributor identification), financing advisory, sectoral specializations in Advanced Manufacturing, Energy and Bio-sciences/Health, and talent development programs (BEINT scholarships, Basque Global Industry traineeships). Services are delivered through 22 international offices in priority markets and supported by digital platforms including Basquexport, the International Trade Observatory, and the Beint Alumni network.

Product overview

Basque Trade & Investment operates as a unified service platform for Basque company internationalization, combining 22 international offices across 80+ countries with specialized sectoral expertise. The portfolio consists of core advisory services (internationalization initiation, expansion and sales support, financing, and sectoral specializations in Advanced Manufacturing, Energy, and Life Sciences/Health) supported by talent development programmes (BEINT scholarships and Basque Global Industry traineeships), analytical products (International Trade Observatory, country reports, tariff helpdesk), and a digital matching platform (Basquexport and European Enterprise Network). The integrated model combines geographical knowledge from the external office network with sectoral expertise from Basque Country offices to deliver tailored services to companies at various stages of internationalization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BEINT: Scholarship program for young university graduates from the Basque Country who want to train in internationalization. The program includes postgraduate education, internships in institutions, and internships in internationalized companies.
• Basque Global Industry
• Basquexport
• Beint Alumni

Products and services

• Internationalization Initiation Services Diagnostic assessment service for non-internationalized Basque companies that evaluates export potential, strengths, and weaknesses, and produces a structured internationalization roadmap for first-time exporters.
• International Expansion and Sales Services Identification of potential customers, commercial agents, distributors or suppliers abroad, with assistance in international registration and establishment processes for Basque companies diversifying markets or addressing new international projects.
• Financing Services Advisory support that helps Basque companies identify the most suitable financing instruments for their international projects, drawing on Basque Government and partner funding programs.
• Internationalization Support Programmes Comprehensive portfolio of internationalization aid programmes from the Basque Government and partner institutions available to Basque companies at various stages of international expansion.
• Sectoral and Specialized Services Specialized internationalization services aligned to the main Basque strategic economic sectors — Advanced Manufacturing, Energy, and Life Sciences/Health — combining sectoral expertise with geographic knowledge from international offices.
• International Trade Observatory Knowledge platform providing ongoing analysis of factors and developments affecting international trade and the situation of main international markets for Basque companies.
• Tariff Helpdesk Updated information service on tariff modifications and key customs/trade documents for Basque companies with international activity.
• BEINT Programme Scholarship programme for young Basque university graduates offering postgraduate specialization training in internationalization and internships in international organizations and companies.
• Basque Global Industry Programme Mobility programme for young people from the Basque Country offering paid traineeships in companies and institutions abroad, lasting 6 to 12 months (formerly known as the Global Training programme).
• Basquexport Online search engine platform enabling Basque companies to find international business opportunities and export partners across markets.
• Beint Alumni Network Community network connecting more than 2,000 professionals involved in business internationalization who have completed BEINT and Basque Global Industry programmes.
• European Enterprise Network (EEN) Partner Matching Cross-border business cooperation and partner matching service for Basque companies through the European Enterprise Network, including international tenders and trade promotion opportunities across Europe.
• Country Reports Country-specific analysis including reports on aerospace markets, energy sectors, and market opportunities in key international markets for Basque companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 500 young people complete training annually through grants programs
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• European Enterprise Network (EEN)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBasque Trade & Investment partners with the European Enterprise Network to provide international business cooperation opportunities and cross-border business matching services for Basque companies seeking international partnerships.
• Ikaslan – AFM – Mondragon UnibertsitateamajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization for Basque Global Industry grant program, providing management and tutoring services for internship placements. One of five partner organizations administering the 2026 program.
• Fundación Novia SalcedomajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization for Basque Global Industry grant program, providing management and tutoring services for internship placements. One of five partner organizations administering the 2026 program.
• Garapen – Donostia SustapenamajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization for Basque Global Industry grant program, providing management and tutoring services for internship placements. One of five partner organizations administering the 2026 program.
• Eusko Ganberak (Basque Chambers of Commerce)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization for Basque Global Industry grant program, providing management and tutoring services for internship placements. One of five partner organizations administering the 2026 program.
• Confebask – ADEGI – Txorierri – HETELmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization consortium for Basque Global Industry grant program, providing management and tutoring services for internship placements. One of five partner organizations administering the 2026 program.
• SPRI – Agencia Vasca de Desarrollo EmpresarialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization and key strategic partner. SPRI is the Basque Development Agency that oversees Basque Trade & Investment as part of the Basque Government's support infrastructure for business development.
• Eusko Jaurlaritza (Basque Government)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funding and strategic direction provider. The Basque Government, through its various departments, provides the economic and technical resources that Basque Trade integrates for Basque companies.
• Trade Promotion EuropeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for trade promotion activities across European markets, supporting Basque companies' expansion into European markets.
• Interreg EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean cooperation program partnership supporting cross-border initiatives including WOMEX trade promotion activities.
• Basque Provincial CouncilsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with provincial councils (Álava, Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia) as part of the Basque ecosystem supporting enterprise internationalization.
• BRTA (Basque Research & Technology Alliance)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology and research alliance supporting the internationalization of Basque technology and innovation capabilities.
• Basque Clusters and Business AssociationsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of sectoral clusters and business associations that channel internationalization services to member companies across various strategic sectors.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ICEX Spain Trade and Investment: Spanish national trade and investment promotion entity under the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism. Operates a global network of trade offices and provides internationalization services to Spanish companies, comparable in mission and service portfolio to Basque Trade & Investment but at national scope.
• ACCIÓ - Catalonia Trade & Investment: Catalan regional competitiveness agency under the Generalitat de Catalunya. Provides internationalization services, innovation support, and investment attraction for Catalan companies and clusters, closely paralleling the Basque Trade & Investment model as a regional government trade promotion agency.
• Wallonia Trade and Investment (AWEX): Belgian regional trade and investment agency for Wallonia. Operates international offices and provides export support and partner matching to Walloon companies, with a comparable model combining regional mandate, sectoral specialization, and overseas office network.
• Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT): Flemish regional trade and investment promotion agency. Supports Flemish companies with internationalization through international offices and sector-specific expertise, serving as one of the closest functional and structural analogues to Basque Trade & Investment within the EU regional agency landscape.
• Enterprise Ireland: Irish state development agency focused on Irish enterprise internationalization. Provides export support, partner matching, and sector-specific expertise to Irish SMEs and multinationals, with a comparable combination of regional/national mandate, international offices, and integrated talent and funding programs.
• Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE): Swiss official trade and investment promotion agency. Supports Swiss SMEs with internationalization through consulting, market intelligence, and partner networks across multiple regions, operating a comparable model of public agency trade promotion with global office presence.

Broad incumbents

• Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI): German federal economic development agency supporting internationalization of German companies and inward investment promotion. Broader national scope than Basque Trade & Investment, with deeper resources and a wider industry mandate, but operates a similar service model combining advisory, market intelligence, and partner matching.
• Business France: French national agency supporting international development of French companies and foreign investment attraction. Comparable in service portfolio (export support, partner matching, market intelligence) but operates at national scale with significantly larger resources than a regional agency like Basque Trade & Investment.
• Department for Business and Trade (UK): UK government department responsible for trade policy, export support, and investment promotion. Provides internationalization services to UK businesses through a global office network and trade missions, operating at substantially larger scale than Basque Trade & Investment but with overlapping service categories.
• Italian Trade Agency (ITA): Italian national agency for trade promotion supporting Italian companies' internationalization and foreign investment attraction. Operates a global network of offices providing market intelligence, partner matching, and trade fair coordination, with a similar service model at national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/basquetrade

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Basque Trade & Investment