Most small businesses were established in one location and operated in the same market for years. That was before… Now, most businesses are established not in the space where they plan to sell their product or service, but where the production process is most efficient for them. The technological progress of the twenty-first century allows us to almost ignore distance and be as active in global trading spaces as in the markets of our own country and city.
It all started in time immemorial. Trade between nations, civilizations, and countries has been and is an important trigger for human progress, and since the only way to grow your business is to attract new customers, you need to identify where the individuals and businesses are who can benefit from your services and products.
In theory, you probably all know this, but when you think about your own business, you still hardly imagine that you will be able to access global markets. The word export is also associated with something difficult and impossible, especially if you have not done it before. Exporting a service is certainly a challenge, but not that difficult. There are standard steps that you need to prepare for and then implement.
Georgia does not have a long experience of operating in the international market, however, thanks to its specific production factors, it has already achieved some success and the prospects look promising. An important role in this success is given to Georgia's foreign trade policy, which includes: membership in the World Trade Organization, bilateral agreements on free trade; agreement with the European Union on a deep and comprehensive free trade area, etc. Thanks to such agreements, products and services produced in Georgia enjoy zero or preferential tariff barriers in various leading countries of the world, which creates significant competitive advantages for the business sector of our country in terms of expanding its activities and utilizing its export potential.
Many of you recall minerals, ferroalloys, mineral water, and wine as successful examples of exports from Georgia. Although these products have represented a significant share of the country's total exports for decades, exporting a variety of products and services created by small and medium-sized enterprises outside the country's borders is no less important for a diversified and stable export system.
For a successful export business, the uniqueness of the product category itself is not decisive. Today, products such as textiles, sweets, toys, accessories, fruits, vegetables and many others are exported from Georgia. These are the commodity categories that are also imported into our country. With a sound marketing strategy and correct positioning, you should show the customer the important features that create the uniqueness of your offer. In some cases, you may need to modify your marketing strategy to adapt to the new market.
Despite its specificity, the volume of international trade is increasing significantly from year to year in the world, and in the last decade, trade in services between countries has been characterized by a special growth. Entering the international market is an inevitable challenge today, which pushes the manufacturer to engage in global competition, introduce new technologies, become more efficient, improve quality, create innovative products and thus achieve sustainable development.
To start an export business, it is crucial to know the specific issues of international trade, such as: drafting an international trade contract, customs procedures, tariff barriers, non-tariff barriers, mandatory certificates, criteria for determining the country of origin of a product, product delivery terms (INCOTERMS), determining the transport route, selecting the type of transportation, insurance of risks related to transportation, cargo insurance, forms of financial settlement, and so on.
The seminar "How to Enter the International Market" is dedicated to studying these and similar issues. Join us and find the path to the international market outside the country with us.
*Author Maka Daushvili
