If you want to excel in the import export business, you need to grasp the idea, importance and scope of international business in the market.
Without detailed knowledge of international marketing and business opportunities, it is almost impossible to meet your customer demands and hence grow your business.
What is International business
Before you get into the business opportunities in the International markets, let’s first discuss what international business means.
International business is a term we use for global business expansion. It means that you cross your country borders to focus on the global resources in the market. This is another term used for the global trade market or import export business. If you have obtained a license for global trade, you get your business the license to manufacture and export your products beyond the boundaries of your country.
When we talk of international business, e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Alibaba, eBay, and similar become a part of it.
International business doesn’t mean the trading of goods only. It means the global exchange of products, resources, technology, and management skills.
Importance before the scope of international business
Before we get to the scope of international business, let’s understand the importance of it.
The reason for investing in international business can be explained in 8 simple points.
1. Expansion of your market
The main motto of investing in international business is business growth in the global market. As you invest in the global market, you get to interact with people from different countries, understand their needs, and expand your business.
Now, you need to produce more items to meet the global need and slowly make a lot of profit. The expansion of the market is definitely something to look forward to.
2. Earn in foreign currency
As you indulge in international business, you get to bring home foreign currency and enhance the economy of your country.
The more your export goods to foreign lands, the more you earn in foreign exchange. Often, it is a big advantage for Asian countries, since the foreign exchange rate is quite high in western countries like the USA or the UK.
3. Spread the risk in business
Getting involved in international business easily spreads business risk globally. This means if your business has faced a loss from one of the countries you are dealing with, you can easily recover it from the profit you make in other countries.
If you are involved in international business, you already have a grasp on different countries in the world. In the case of a global crisis, you can transfer the surplus resources from one country to another to reduce your market risk.
4. Higher economy
In global trade, it is impossible to avoid products on a huge scale. Naturally, you enjoy economies to scale with the volume productions and their exports.
The trick is simple. If bulk producing, your cost of the product goes down on the scale, and the profit increases as you sell all across the globe.
5. Advantage of the cost
If you are an international player in the trade, you can easily take advantage of the cost of production.
Not only the production cost goes down with bulk manufacturing but also allows you to secure the cheapest deal globally. Not sure what I meant? Let me explain.
Suppose your company has good global contacts, you don’t need to produce your item in your home country.
You can easily manufacture products at a place where the raw materials are the cheapest and sell them at standard market rates in different countries.
This reduces the cost of production further and you get an upper edge in comparison to your competitors in the market.
6. Build your global relation
International business helps in developing a good global bond between companies and even nations. Here is how it works-
- The more you communicate with global suppliers, vendors, and wholesalers, the better bond you develop with them. They increase your business opportunity and in turn increases the profit level.
- Enhanced import-export helps in developing a strong economic bond between countries.
- International business growth directly affects the countries economy as you bring home foreign exchange.
- This also develops a sense of mutual trust between the two countries. There are cases where two countries came together during a time of distress since their business terms were great.
7. Get support from the Government
If you are thinking of indulging in international business, you need to move forward with confidence.
Global traders receive huge support from their country’s government in obtaining license, expansion, and in the operation of the business. Do you know why?
You guessed it right because international business helps in improving the country’s economy.
The Governments of countries usually provide special tax benefits to the internal traders all across the globe. After all, you earn foreign exchange for them.
8. Job opportunities
Import-export business requires the involvement of numerous people to take care of the business operation, international marketing, sales, and accounting.
Naturally, if you are into mass production for the global market, you will soon require a good number of people. Soon global business opens doors for people seeking jobs in the country and even abroad.
Surely these reasons are highly important to opt for international business.
Scope of international business
International business is important if you want growth of your company and also enhance the country’s business.
But, before you do it, you need to understand the scope of business in the global market. There are various ways or opportunities waiting for you in the global market that will help in earning massive profit from the trade.
1. Scope of foreign investment
If you are getting into international business, foreign investment is one of the biggest ways of earning.
If there is a strong prospect in the business, foreign investors often consider investing huge funds in a business and expect financial returns from the company.
You can’t expect foreign investment in your country. This happens only when you have taken your business to the international market.
In the international business you will come across two variants of foreign investment-direct and portfolio types.
2. Merchandise import and export
Merchandise is a tangible product of a business. So, for international business, you can earn money by producing a good in your country and then exporting it to foreign lands in exchange of foreign currency.
This trade is equally beneficial in the opposite direction. Which means, you can also think of importing that is getting products from other countries to your country at a cheap deal.
3. Franchising and licensing
Franchising is a great business scope in the international market. Probably, it is one of the best ways to get into international business. How does it work?
Very simple, you provide a license to a foreign company to work under your banner, using your patents, copyrights, and trademarks, to sell your products in the international market. In return for this license, the licensee company pays you a fee.
This is a common business policy for bigshot companies like Coca Cola, where the products are sold by different distributors all across the globe.
4. Import and export of services
Service is an intangible component of business, i.e., this is something you can’t touch or see.
When you get into import and export trading of services in a foreign land, this business is called “Invisible Trade”. Not sure what kind of services are considered as part of international business?
Here is a list of services that create international business opportunities-
- Hotels and hospitality or lodges
- Construction
- Tourism
- Financial services
- Education
- Product training
- Boarding and many more
Out of these, tourism forms one of the largest business scope in the international market.
5. Beyond the domestic boundaries
The international business provides great growth and development opportunities to smaller countries.
The domestic trade market is limited, it promotes international business, thus leading the economic growth of the country. the more you explore the foreign markets, the better you earn and hence improve your country’s economy.
6. National growth opportunities
As you expand your business in the international market, it brings two countries close and increases their opportunities for growth.
When under-developed and developing countries close together because of international business, they help each other grow. As the profit grows in the import-export market, the economies of these countries grow as well.
7. Foreign exchange scope of international business
In international business, foreign exchange plays a major role. There will be several situations, where you will be able to make up for your losses by taking advantage of the fluctuation in the currency rates. indulge in product sell when the currency is favorable for you.
Different types of international business
International business is mainly of three types:-
- Export business: The type of business where you send your product to other countries in exchange for money
- Import business: This is the business type where you purchase products from foreign countries
- Entreport: This is a bit complex international business where you import services and products from one country to re-export to other foreign countries.
Exploring the scope of international business
We understand the importance of international business for the development of the company and the country.
There are many business opportunities for you in the international market if you have the right product. Select your product carefully and become a global trader. You will government support, plus you can always take advantage of foreign currency in your business.