The Export Council of Alaska supports Alaskan exporters and is one of a nationwide network of District Export Councils (DEC’s) intended to foster the international competitiveness of the United States. Exporting from Alaska can be a challenge to the remote location of the state. Nationwide, export councils link together 1,500 leaders of business, government, and academia with the International Trade Administration (ITA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce to help Alaskan exporters to deal with these types of challenges . They serve as an advisory group and communications link between the exporting community and the U.S. Commercial Service of the ITA.