Take Your Business Beyond Borders with T&IB

Md. Joynal Abdin

Founder & CEO, Trade & Investment Bangladesh (T&IB)

Executive Director, Online Training Academy (OTA)

Secretary General, Brazil Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BBCCI)

In an increasingly interconnected global economy, the ability to export is no longer a luxury it is a necessity for sustainable business growth. For Bangladesh, a country with a rising entrepreneurial base and a diverse industrial landscape, the potential to expand into global markets is immense. According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh’s exports crossed USD 55.55 billion in FY2022–23, led primarily by the ready-made garments (RMG) sector. However, despite this impressive figure, a vast number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain confined to the domestic market due to limited knowledge, lack of resources, and insufficient guidance on how to navigate complex export processes.

Trade & Investment Bangladesh (T&IB) emerges as a transformative platform to bridge this gap. With a mission to foster export-led growth, T&IB offers targeted support services that equip Bangladeshi businesses with the knowledge, tools, and connections required to succeed globally. These services include Export Market Identification, Exportability Assessment, Product/Service Positioning, and Buyer-Seller Matchmaking — each addressing a critical component of the export journey. Through these structured interventions, businesses gain strategic clarity, avoid costly mistakes, and improve their chances of success in international trade.

The benefits of engaging in exports extend far beyond increased revenue. Exporting businesses experience higher productivity, improved innovation, and stronger brand recognition, both at home and abroad. Moreover, access to international markets reduces dependency on local demand fluctuations, enabling firms to scale more sustainably. T&IB’s hands-on approach ensures that businesses don’t just enter global markets — they thrive in them. By building export readiness and connecting entrepreneurs to global opportunities, T&IB is playing a vital role in transforming Bangladesh from a manufacturing hub to a globally competitive export powerhouse.

2. Export Market Identification

Entering the global market without proper planning is like setting sail without a compass. One of the most critical steps in a successful export strategy is identifying the right international markets for your products or services. Not all markets are suitable for every business. Differences in culture, demand, competition, regulations, and consumer preferences can significantly impact your success abroad. Without clear market identification, businesses risk wasting time, resources, and capital on markets that are not viable or aligned with their strengths.

For exporters in Bangladesh especially SMEs looking to expand this step is even more crucial. While the country’s export basket is growing, many businesses still rely on instinct or word-of-mouth when choosing markets. This often leads to unsustainable ventures or missed opportunities in untapped regions. A well-researched market identification process ensures that businesses target countries where they can maximize profitability, minimize risk, and build lasting trade relationships.

2.1 How to Identify the Right Export Market

Export Market Identification involves a strategic process based on data, research, and market analysis. The process typically includes:

1. Market Research and Trade Data Analysis: Reviewing global trade statistics, import trends, and competitor activity to find countries where demand for your product is growing. Tools like ITC Trade Map, World Bank databases, and UN Comtrade can provide valuable insights.
2. Demand-Supply Gap Analysis: Assessing whether your product fills a gap in the market or offers a competitive advantage in pricing, quality, or innovation.
3. Regulatory and Entry Barrier Review: Understanding tariffs, import duties, product certifications, and trade regulations that may affect your entry into a specific market.
4. Consumer Preference and Cultural Fit: Analyzing whether your product aligns with the lifestyle, needs, and preferences of the target market’s consumers.
5. Competitive Landscape: Evaluating existing competitors, their pricing, marketing strategies, and distribution models.
6. Market Accessibility and Logistics: Considering geographical proximity, trade agreements, shipping costs, and infrastructure.

T&IB supports exporters through each of these steps, offering curated market reports and one-on-one consulting to help businesses make informed decisions.

2.2 Benefits of Strategic Market Identification

When done correctly, Export Market Identification offers several key benefits:

• Higher Success Rates: Businesses that target the right markets are more likely to achieve sustainable growth and profitability in exports.
• Efficient Use of Resources: Instead of spreading efforts thinly across multiple regions, firms can focus marketing, logistics, and compliance investments on the most promising opportunities.
• Risk Reduction: By identifying potential political, economic, or regulatory risks early, businesses can avoid costly surprises and delays.
• Competitive Edge: Entering a less saturated but high-potential market can provide a first-mover advantage and stronger positioning.
• Strategic Planning: A clearly defined target market allows for better business planning in terms of product adaptation, pricing strategies, and promotional campaigns.

Export Market Identification is not just a step it’s the foundation of every successful export strategy. With expert support from Trade & Investment Bangladesh (T&IB), businesses can navigate this complex process with confidence, and make data-driven decisions that lead to long-term global success.

Export Support Services

3. Exportability Assessment

Exportability Assessment is the process of evaluating a business’s overall readiness to enter international markets. It involves examining whether a company has the capacity, product quality, compliance, and internal systems necessary to meet the demands of global trade. This assessment goes beyond ambition it objectively determines if a business is prepared for the complexities of exporting, from production scalability to documentation and customer service capabilities.

For many Bangladeshi enterprises, especially small and medium-sized businesses, the desire to export is strong, but the path is not always clear. Without assessing their export readiness, businesses risk encountering regulatory failures, delayed shipments, or loss of credibility with foreign buyers. Exportability Assessment acts as a safeguard, ensuring that a business is not only willing but truly able to meet the requirements of international trade.

3.1 Why is Exportability Assessment Important?

Exporting is a different ball game than selling locally. It comes with higher expectations, stricter regulations, and more complex logistics. If a business isn’t properly equipped, even a promising international deal can result in losses or long-term reputational damage. That’s why conducting an Exportability Assessment before entering foreign markets is essential.

This assessment helps identify internal gaps such as a lack of certifications, inconsistent product quality, or untrained personnel that can be resolved ahead of time. It also prepares businesses for export-related investments such as adapting packaging, translating documents, improving production timelines, and meeting international quality standards. By recognizing and addressing these areas proactively, businesses can approach global markets with greater confidence and professionalism.

3.2 How to Conduct an Exportability Assessment

A comprehensive Exportability Assessment typically includes the following key components:

1. Product Suitability & Compliance: Is the product compliant with international standards and certifications? Can it be adapted to meet the expectations of the target market (e.g., labeling, ingredients, safety)?
2. Production & Operational Capacity: Can your business fulfill larger orders consistently and within deadlines? Are your supply chains resilient and scalable?
3. Financial Readiness: Do you have the financial health and resources to handle upfront export costs such as logistics, customs duties, marketing, and credit terms?
4. Human Resources & Skills: Does your team understand export documentation, trade finance, logistics, and communication with international buyers?
5. Logistics & Distribution Readiness: Are your logistics partners reliable? Do you understand the shipping, warehousing, and delivery requirements of the destination market?
6. Legal & Documentation Preparedness: Are your business licenses, invoices, certificates of origin, contracts, and export declarations in place?

Trade & Investment Bangladesh (T&IB) helps businesses conduct these assessments in a structured and supportive manner, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, and providing guidance on how to upgrade where necessary.

3.3 Benefits of Exportability Assessment

A thorough Exportability Assessment offers a wide range of benefits:

• ✅ Minimizes Export Failures: Identifies potential challenges before they become costly problems.
• ✅ Improves Product Competitiveness: Ensures your product meets international standards, increasing its appeal in the global market.
• ✅ Strengthens Internal Systems: Enhances processes, efficiency, and quality control — benefits that also improve domestic performance.
• ✅ Builds Credibility with Buyers: Shows foreign partners that you are a reliable and professional exporter.
• ✅ Supports Strategic Growth: Helps you scale in a way that’s sustainable and responsive to market demand.

In summary, Exportability Assessment is your business’s reality check and readiness plan. Before taking on the international stage, it helps ensure you’re equipped to deliver — not just once, but consistently. With expert support from T&IB, Bangladeshi businesses can go global with confidence, knowing they are well-prepared for the opportunities and challenges of international trade.

4.  Product and Service Positioning

Product and Service Positioning refers to the strategic process of defining how your product or service is perceived in the minds of target international customers, relative to competitors. It involves shaping and communicating the unique value, quality, functionality, pricing, and branding of your offering so that it resonates with the expectations and preferences of a specific market segment.

When exporting, a product that performs well in the local market may not automatically succeed abroad. Consumer behavior, cultural norms, price sensitivity, packaging preferences, and competitive landscapes vary across countries. Therefore, positioning your product correctly is essential to ensure it is not just available in a foreign market — but relevant and desirable.

4.1 How to Position a Product or Service for Export Markets

Strategic positioning requires both research and adaptation. Here are key steps to do it effectively:

1. Understand Your Target Market
   Conduct market research to learn about consumer preferences, trends, purchasing habits, and competitive products. This helps tailor your positioning to what the market values most — whether it’s quality, price, origin, innovation, or sustainability.
2. Define Your Unique Value Proposition (UVP)
   Identify what makes your product or service different and better than others in the same space. Is it handmade craftsmanship, price competitiveness, eco-friendliness, speed of service, or local authenticity? This unique value must be clearly communicated in all aspects of marketing.
3. Adapt Branding and Messaging
   Translate and culturally adapt product names, slogans, and promotional content to resonate with local consumers. The messaging must align with local language, tone, and values to avoid miscommunication or brand mismatch.
4. Align Packaging and Labeling
   Packaging must not only meet legal requirements (like language, expiry dates, and barcode standards) but also appeal visually and functionally to local buyers. For example, premium markets may prefer minimalist design, while others might favor detailed, vibrant packaging.
5. Set the Right Pricing Strategy
   Analyze local market pricing and competitor offerings to determine whether your positioning should be premium, value-for-money, or economy-based. Pricing must also account for taxes, duties, shipping, and distribution margins.
6. Choose the Right Sales Channels
   Whether through e-commerce, local distributors, or trade fairs, the sales strategy must match the buying behavior of the target market. A product positioned for youth, for example, may benefit from digital-first promotion and influencer marketing.

T&IB provides tailored guidance in this entire process — from consumer insight research to branding and market-entry strategy — ensuring Bangladeshi products are well-positioned globally.

4.2 Benefits of Effective Product and Service Positioning

• ✅ Stronger Market Entry: With a clear positioning strategy, your product enters the market with a compelling identity, helping it gain traction faster.
• ✅ Improved Brand Recognition: A well-positioned product builds awareness and brand loyalty by standing out from generic or misaligned competitors.
• ✅ Higher Perceived Value: Proper positioning often allows for premium pricing and better margins because the value is clearly communicated.
• ✅ Better Customer Targeting: Positioning helps attract the right segment of customers, reducing marketing waste and increasing conversion rates.
• ✅ Adaptability Across Markets: By mastering positioning, your business gains the skills to adapt offerings for multiple countries and customer bases.

In conclusion, Product and Service Positioning is not just about selling a product — it’s about selling the right product to the right people, in the right way. For Bangladeshi exporters, this is the key to transforming good products into global success stories. With the expert support of Trade & Investment Bangladesh (T&IB), businesses can fine-tune their positioning strategies to meet international market expectations and leave a lasting impression on customers around the world.

Foreign Investment Processing

5.  Buyer-Seller Matchmaking

Buyer-Seller Matchmaking is a strategic process that facilitates direct connections between exporters (sellers) and potential international buyers (importers, distributors, retailers, or agents). The goal is to build reliable, mutually beneficial trade relationships by matching the right product with the right market and buyer thereby reducing the time, cost, and uncertainty involved in finding export opportunities.

For Bangladeshi businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), accessing international buyers can be a significant challenge. Despite having competitive products or services, many firms struggle with market access, lack of networks, and limited exposure. That’s where Trade & Investment Bangladesh (T&IB) comes in helping exporters navigate this space with verified leads, industry-specific matchups, and personalized support.

5.1 Steps in Buyer-Seller Matchmaking

1. Exporter Profiling
   The process begins with a detailed understanding of the seller’s product portfolio, business capacity, certifications, and target market preferences. This helps define the ideal buyer profile.
2. Market & Buyer Research
   T&IB uses trade data, global buyer databases, and industry contacts to identify potential buyers that match the exporter’s product category, pricing range, and market interest.
3. Verification & Shortlisting
   Buyers are screened based on credibility, purchasing volume, market reach, and alignment with the exporter’s objectives. This ensures that only serious and relevant buyers are included.
4. Initial Introductions & Communication Setup
   T&IB facilitates the first point of contact through email, virtual meetings, or trade networking events. Company profiles and product samples are shared to initiate discussions.
5. Meeting Coordination
   In-person or virtual business meetings are arranged, with interpretation, presentation support, and negotiation guidance provided if needed.
6. Follow-Up & Relationship Building
   After the initial match, T&IB supports follow-up communication, helping both parties build trust, clarify expectations, and finalize deals or trial orders.

5.2 Tips for Effective Buyer-Seller Matchmaking

✅ Know Your Product Inside-Out
Be clear on your product’s specifications, compliance certificates, pricing, and production capacity. Buyers need this information early to assess fit.

✅ Be Export-Ready
Ensure you’re prepared with export documentation, sample availability, and logistics readiness. A buyer may lose interest if you’re not ready to deliver.

✅ Build a Professional Profile
Create a strong company profile or catalog with clear visuals, product details, business highlights, and contact information. First impressions matter.

✅ Respond Promptly and Clearly
Timely communication builds credibility. Answer buyer queries with precision and always maintain professionalism.

✅ Understand the Buyer’s Market
Do a bit of research about the buyer’s country, regulations, and consumer behavior. This allows you to tailor your pitch and understand their perspective.

✅ Be Transparent & Flexible
Clear communication about pricing, lead times, and customization options builds trust. Flexibility in initial orders or trial shipments can help close deals.

✅ Leverage Expert Support
Working with organizations like T&IB ensures access to pre-qualified buyers, strategic guidance, and fewer chances of fraud or miscommunication.

In conclusion, Buyer-Seller Matchmaking is the bridge that transforms local ambition into global opportunity. With structured facilitation from Trade & Investment Bangladesh (T&IB), Bangladeshi exporters can gain exposure to quality international buyers, build meaningful relationships, and convert conversations into contracts. It’s not just about making contacts — it’s about creating trusted partnerships that fuel long-term export success.

Export Support Services

6. Closing remarks

In today’s competitive global market, taking the leap into exporting requires more than just ambition it requires the right support, knowledge, and connections. Trade & Investment Bangladesh (T&IB) is here to provide precisely that. With our comprehensive suite of export support services, including Export Market Identification, Exportability Assessment, Product/Service Positioning, and Buyer-Seller Matchmaking, we ensure that Bangladeshi businesses not only enter global markets but do so with confidence and strategic advantage. Our tailored solutions are designed to guide you at every step of the export journey, from identifying the right markets to establishing valuable, long-term trade relationships.

We invite all potential exporters to connect with us and take advantage of the specialized support available. By partnering with T&IB, you gain access to valuable market insights, enhanced visibility, and expert guidance all crucial elements for achieving global success. With our assistance, you’ll mitigate risks, optimize resources, and unlock new business opportunities worldwide. Take the first step towards expanding your business beyond borders with T&IB your gateway to global trade excellence!