A consulate is a type of diplomatic mission that is usually subordinate to the states main representation in the capital of a foreign country, usually an embassy. Consulates are usually located in other large cities within the host country and are established in major cities other than the capital, strategically chosen to offer better support and services to citizens and businesses in those regions. Consulates provide many of the same services and carry out the same official functions as the embassy, but on a smaller scale. The activities of a consulate include protecting the interests of their citizens temporarily or permanently resident in the host country, issuing passports, issuing visas to foreigners, and public diplomacy. The principal role of a consulate lies traditionally in promoting trade, assisting companies to invest and to import and export goods and services both inwardly to their home country and outward to their host country.