The uneven economic recovery and the administration’s focus on doubling exports by 2014 (the National Export Initiative, or NEI) means greater business opportunities could be in international markets, such as Brazil, Russia, India and China as well as other regions with the greatest growth.
Express services provider DHL Express offers the following advice to shippers to help them take advantage of these opportunities:
∙ Identify the right markets. Whether a business is importing or exporting, conducting research on the countries that best suit a company’s expansion is a vital first step. Pay attention not only to which countries have growing economies, but to the specific growth sectors within each country;
∙ Know the rules. These can vary greatly from one country to the next, and these laws will not only govern how your shipment is received, but they will also be specific to the type of product you are sending.
∙ Find a reputable logistics agent with market intelligence. It should be able to offer strategic advice on trade and customs issues.
∙ Secure financing. Expansion typically requires additional funds, but because of the NEI and the U.S. focus toward globalization, capital is generally available for business owners interested in expanding overseas.
∙ Utilize free resources. Many U.S. government and Chamber of Commerce websites provide detailed information, tools and other tips on what’s needed to become a global company.
