International trade enables countries to expand their markets and access goods and services that otherwise may not have been available domestically. As a result of international trade, the market is more competitive. This ultimately results in more competitive pricing and brings a much affordable product home to the consumer.

Export marketing is not just a process to find buyers/importers and approach them with the expectation of export orders but a well-planned strategic marketing process for the exporters to gain profits at the international level through competing with the other brands. The features of export marketing are Systematic process, customer focus, trade barriers, trading blocs, three-faced competition, documentation, the dominance of multinational corporations, diverse customs and traditions, large scale operations, subject to regulations, marketing- mix and international marketing.

It ishighly essential to build a detailed export marketing plan, based on market research, for each of overseas markets. Export marketing plan should consider the chosen approach to the market and the plans for logistics, order fulfilment, customer service and supplier management.

In this context, a five day’s training program was jointly organized by MSME-DFO, Cuttack, World Trade Center Bhubaneswar and MSME Department, Government of Odisha.

The first day of the training program commenced with an inaugural address by Ms. Nitisha Mann, IES, Deputy Director, MSME-DFO Cuttack. In her address she briefed the participants about the program and deliberated on the role of MSME-DFO, Cuttack in handholding and implementing various schemes and policies framed by the Government of India for the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises.

Mr.Manas Ranjan Parida, Assistant Superintendent – Mails, O/o of Chief Post Master General, Bhubaneswar deliberated on the Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra initiatives to facilitate exporters for the MSMEs and its comprehensive plan to make the network useful for One District One Product (ODOP) and small businesses with an aim to make each district in the country proficient in manufacturing, branding, and marketing one kind of product. They further spoke on the product features, international mail products, source of documents for new products, benefit of customer portal of DNK, parcel helpline, prohibited products etc.

Mr. Rajen Padhi, Commercial Director, B One Business House and Honorary Convener, International Trade Promotion Think Tank, World Trade Center Bhubaneswar demonstrated on the International Marketing, process of Export Marketing, challenges in export marketing, export strategy, suggestive tips for exporters and other nuances in export business.

Mr. P K Mohanty, OSD to Director, Directorate of Export Promotion and Marketing (DEPM), Government of Odisha highlighted the nuances of Odisha Export Policy 2022. He briefed on how to start an export business, ways to process an export order, documentation for imports/exports and basic branding of the goods. He also spoke on the focus sectors of Odisha Export Policy 2022, provisions under the scheme, fiscal incentives, export scenario of Odisha, export performance of Odisha and highlighted the product wise exports from Odisha in the last five years.

Mr. Sribas Nath, IRS, Deputy Commissioner, CGST & Customs, Bhubaneswar Zone deliberated on mandatory documents for exports, bill of lading, commercial invoice cum packaging list, shipping bill/bill of export and other additional documents required for export business. He also gave a detailed presentation on customs procedures, export promotion schemes, IGST/ITC Refund, drawback and RoDTEP.

Mr. Archiman Lahiri, Deputy Director, Regional Division, MPEDA Bhubaneswar in his session deliberated on Indian Fisheries Scenario, seafood export performance, significance of Indian Seafood Sector, Odisha’s Fisheries Infrastructure, SWOT analysis, regulatory and developmental functions of MPEDA, relationship between different stakeholders in Seafood Export Sector, value added seafood products and EIC Regulations for seafood exports.

Mr. Kamal Sahoo, Head – Odisha Chapter, FIEO during his address delivered on One District One Product (ODOP) Scheme in Odisha, Geographical Indications (GI) tags of Odisha, significance of e-commerce in export market and further gave a detailed presentation on Indian Trade Portal.

Mr. Subas Kumar Sahu, Assistant Director, MSME-DFO Cuttack gave a detailed presentation on packaging concept, criteria for packaging, materials, eco-friendly packaging options, modern trends in packaging and explained about hazardous goods and handling labels.

Mr. Ankit Rathor, Manager, ECGC Limited, Bhubaneswar deliberated on the export credit guarantee schemes whereas Mr. Jitendra Senapati, AGM, State Bank of India Bhubaneswar and Mr. Abhishek Gaurav, State Bank of India, Bhubaneswar deliberated on the banking schemes for exporters/potential exporters. 

During Valedictory Session, Ms. Nitisha Mann, IES,Deputy Director, MSME-DFO Cuttack spoke on the Udyam Registration procedure, Government e-Marketplace, various cluster development programs and proposed the vote of thanks.

Ms. Nimeshika Natarajan, Assistant Director, World Trade Center Bhubaneswar moderated the session.

The workshop was held from 25^th – 30^th September 2023 at Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (IED) Bhubaneswar.