For Akhil Choudhary, CITP®, international trade isn’t just about products moving around the world—it’s about ideas, innovation, and collaborative solutions that can improve lives across borders.
It was this passion for problem-solving that inspired him to dive into importing and exporting between nations in full force.
“The idea of globalization and global supply chains—not only for products but also for technological collaboration to solve growing issues—was a key motivation for me to be in the international trade ecosystem.”
His experiences in the field taught him how the right trade connections create economic opportunity, especially in regions with tremendous potential. For Akhil, that opportunity was India. “I take immense pride in building the Indian market for global players,” he says, adding, “it’s a market of truly boundless potential.”
Discovering international trade in action
Akhil began his journey in international trade through the Embassy of Israel in New Delhi. There, he worked as a Trade Officer with the Economy and Trade Mission, facilitating business, cross-border research, and investment between the two countries. After, he joined the Canadian High Commission, working in the agriculture sector for the Indian market, an experience that has defined many crowning moments in his career.
Growing the e-commerce sector with Amazon
One initiative that Akhil is particularly proud of was an e-commerce collaboration with Amazon. He led a flagship initiative to open India’s e-commerce sector to Canadian exporters. Using the Amazon India platform, they launched a Canada e-commerce store that fast-tracked multiple Canadian brands to the Indian market through a scalable plug-and-play model. This allowed exporters to reach millions of Indian consumers quickly and with minimal risk.
“We overcame regulatory complexities, low brand awareness, and exporter onboarding challenges by working with trade advisors, crafting targeted digital campaigns, and providing hands-on training, ensuring Canadian products gain strong traction in one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets.”
This was a win-win scenario for both Canadian SMEs and Indian consumers looking for Canadian goods.
This achievement has also given him a deep understanding of consumer demands in India. Specifically, he’s seen niche sectors like pet food and goods grow phenomenally.
“With our continued efforts and engagements, Canada today enjoys a great reputation in this category and has become ‘the origin’ for Indian importers seeking new products in pet food and pet accessories,” he states.
Learning the value of time in bilateral economies
Timing things properly is crucial to a large part of Akhil’s work in today’s global ecosystem.
“In my professional journey, I have learnt that time is of the essence to convert global opportunities into economic outcomes. The right strategy, the right connections, backed with the right knowledge, will define the outcome of any business proposition.”
Time also plays a part in helping him understand what works and what doesn’t in international business. “In the beginning, I encountered challenges. It takes time to understand the strengths and limitations you have working with bilateral economies.”
Strengthening and validating his expertise with FITTskills
Coming from an environmental background, Ahkil wanted to bolster his work experience with accredited global trade knowledge and certification. That’s when he turned to FITT’s international trade training program:
“It was an amazing opportunity to deep dive into some of the subjects that you hear frequently but do not have a good understanding of. It prepares you well on the subjects that are essential for delivering services to the Canadian companies that you represent in international trade.”
His favourite course in the program was International Market Entry Strategies. He notes that he deals with market entry on an ongoing basis.
“The program provided a fresh perspective on understanding client needs—clarifying not only what the client is truly seeking but also how I can deliver insights and solutions that empower them to make informed, strategic decisions.”
“The frameworks and practical approaches from the International Market Entry Strategies course have strengthened my ability to design market-entry recommendations that are both actionable and aligned with each client’s objectives.”
Attaining recognition through the CITP
Always one to take the reins on his career path, Akhil applied for his CITP designation after completing the FITTskills program.
“I have a very different educational background (Environmental Science), so I was looking for recognition. The CITP designation provides that recognition and empowers me with knowledge to do better.”
He also appreciates how the designation pushes him to maintain high standards, stating, “it will keep me aligned with the high standards of excellence and quality that I have to follow and maintain while working with my clients in international trade.”
The feeling of validation
Reaping the benefits of his hard work, Akhil says earning his CITP is “a great feeling.” He adds, “It has given a validation to my years of professional experience in bilateral trade and policy at different foreign Government offices in India.”
Already accomplished in the field of global trade, we have no doubt that Akhil will continue to foster impactful initiatives between India and other countries for many years to come.
Experts like him, equipped with FITTskills training and the CITP designation, are helping shape a more connected, resilient, and opportunity-driven world through partnership and cooperation.
LinkedIn: Akhil Choudhary
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