In the ever-evolving world of international trade, standing out requires more than just ambition—it demands continuous learning, adaptability, and recognized expertise. For one accomplished professional, the journey from a biology student to a Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) has been transformative, marked by diverse roles, global projects, and a relentless pursuit of growth.

Hardik Panchal, Director, Export sales at Worldest Exports, has built a career that spans global market expansion, international joint ventures, and sustainable trade initiatives. His contributions have driven multimillion-dollar export growth, created hundreds of jobs, and positioned him as a leading expert in global trade facilitation.

Helping companies diversify into new global markets from the start

Hardik’s journey in international trade began in 2007, when he joined a multinational pharmaceutical company Vipro Lifescience as an International Marketing Officer. His talent for cross-cultural negotiations and market strategy enabled him to facilitate new trade deals in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

“I started my career in international trade because of a combination of personal interest and strategic opportunities,” Hardik recalls

Over the years, Hardik has played a pivotal role in expanding exports for companies across multiple industries, including pharmaceuticals, plastics, chemicals, food, and textiles.

In his tenure at a leading chemical producer from 2017 to 2023, he successfully increased international sales by an impressive 60%, helping the company establish a strong presence in South East Asia, North America and Europe.

One of his key projects involved transforming a domestic chemical brand into a leading global name by expanding its global reach and distribution network within a short span of time.

I thrive on helping businesses enter new markets and achieve sustainable, long-term growth.

In addition to his job, Hardik has been representing WhipAppeal Inc. company based in Ohio, USA for over a decade. His involvement with WhipAppeal has been instrumental in the marketing, sourcing, and OEM production of their Sportswear, School uniforms and boxing products as well as negotiating key trade agreements with vendors and customers.

Through his representation, Hardik has led global marketing initiatives, positioning WhipAppeal as a competitive brand in international markets,identified and sourced reliable suppliers across various regions, ensuring the quality and cost-effectiveness of products, managed OEM production relationships, coordinating production schedules and ensuring product quality and timely delivery, and negotiated favorable terms with both vendors and customers, ensuring mutually beneficial contracts and expanding WhipAppeal’s market presence.

These efforts helped WhipAppeal Inc. significantly expand its product distribution network, secure major contracts, and successfully navigate complex international trade regulations.

Formal international business training and a multicultural learning environment in Singapore

Recognizing the need to enhance his business acumen, Hardik pursued an Advanced Diploma in Business Management from AEC College, Singapore in 2011. This experience immersed him in a multicultural learning environment, allowing him to gain deep insights into international market trends, trade policies, and supply chain optimization.

Training in Singapore, with classmates from diverse nationalities, gave me firsthand exposure to global business strategies and trade regulations.

During this time, he visited Singapore’s world-class shipping port, where he learned about merchanting exports and advanced supply chain models, skills that later helped him streamline complex export operations for multiple businesses.

Driving multimillion-dollar international trade projects

Hardik’s global business impact extends beyond individual companies, as he has played a direct role in major international trade and investment projects.

One of the achievements he is most proud of was his leadership in a $6 million foreign direct investment (FDI) joint venture in South Africa between Vintron Infotech (a division of VLCP Ltd) and Ventura Infotech (Pty) Ltd., where he co-managed market research and entry strategies, regulatory compliance and trade facilitation, JV structuring and supply chain coordination, and installing the manufacturing facility.

This major initiative led to the creation of 170 sustainable jobs in Johannesburg and positioned the company as a key player in the African market.

Want to learn more about the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP®|FIBP®) designation? See why it’s the world’s most recognized designation for competency and credibility in global business.

The CITP designation as a strategic move

After over 15 years of hands-on experience, the desire to benchmark his skills led Hardik to the CITP designation.

“I was curious to see what credentials I could earn to validate my experience. I googled ‘top standards in international trade’ and found FITT.”

Conversations with existing CITPs and those in the process of applying for the designation confirmed its value.

“The CITP designation aligned perfectly with my career goals. It’s one of the most prestigious credentials in international trade, recognized globally, including by the Canadian government and the World Trade Center Association in New York.”

The certification process, supported by FITT’s responsive team, was seamless and Hardik considers achieving the CITP both a professional milestone and a personal triumph.

“It symbolizes my commitment to lifelong learning and excellence in international trade. It has enhanced my credibility, allowing me to connect with senior industry leaders and be available for new opportunities.”

Sharing international trade expertise through teaching and mentorship

Beyond business success and personal achievements, Hardik is passionate about mentorship. Throughout his career he’s had the support of leaders who took the time to help develop his industry knowledge.

He has also acted as a mentor himself, service as a faculty member at IMPEXPERTS, where he trained over 500 MSMEs and entrepreneurs in export strategies and a trainer for international business programs teaching trade finance, buyer identification, and market expansion.

“I believe in knowledge-sharing because I had mentor who guided me early in my career. Now, I want to do the same for others.”

His guidance have helped numerous businesses scale internationally, directly impacting trade volumes and economic growth.

Looking ahead to a future rooted in sustainability

Looking ahead, Hardik is focusing on sustainable trade practices and ESG compliance, aiming to help SMEs transition to low-carbon supply chains and eco-friendly products.

“The next five years will see a massive shift toward sustainable trade. Companies that adopt green alternatives early will have a competitive advantage,” he predicts.

He is currently working on export promotion initiatives that assist businesses in aligning with global ESG standards, ensuring compliance with new trade regulations in North America and Europe.

“I want to introduce sustainable business practices to SMEs globally, helping them offer low-carbon products and green alternatives.” He foresees significant shifts in international trade trends over the next 5-10 years and aim to help businesses stay ahead.

“I want to help businesses stay current with the market trend so they are ready to offer low carbon emission products and green alternatives and take advantage of this trend before it becomes too competitive.”

Hardik foresees his CITP designation will continue to play a an important role in further building his career.

“It enhances the credibility of my work, expands my influence in international trade, and unlocks new opportunities.”

Reflecting on his career journey so far, one piece of advice stands out: “Focusing on building relationships and being consistent is the way to go.”

The post CITP Spotlight: Hardik Panchal – Export Marketing Manager, Worldest Exports appeared first on Trade Ready.

What should you look out for or expect in the international business world in 2018? Let’s take a look and see what could be dominating the headlines you read over the next twelve months.

1. The CPTPP

Though President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the TPP in January, the remaining 11 countries are working to resurrect the deal as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). This deal, if signed, would eliminate approximately 95% of tariffs on trade between these countries, who have a combined GDP of over $10 trillion USD.

In November, Canada surprised the other 10 countries by declining to sign the agreement, to the surprise of the negotiators and the Canadian international trade community. However, amid efforts to diversify exports beyond the American market, it seems unlikely that Canada will continue to drag its heels on an opportunity to gain preferential access to the Japanese market in particular. Expect any final issues to be resolved and the CPTPP to be signed sometime in 2018.

2. Ongoing, contentious Brexit talks

By December 2017, the UK has completed the first phase of Brexit negotiations with the EU, covering issues such as the Irish border, citizens’ rights and financial settlements. The second phase of negotiations will cover the UK’s transition period after formally leaving the EU in March 2019. Discussions over the long-term relationship between the UK and EU will be included in phase three.

This process was complicated on December 13, when several Conservative British MPs joined the opposition to vote for an amendment requiring British Parliament to debate and vote on any final deal with the EU before it can be approved.

The second phase of Brexit negotiations are planned for 2018, and are expected to present few greater challenges than the first phase. The final phase on the long-term relationship between the UK and EU, however, presents several important questions about economic integration and free trade that Britain’s politicians and citizens have not yet agreed upon.

With two sets of challenging negotiations, and the extra hurdle of parliamentary approval, the odds that talks will drag into the final three months before the UK leaves the EU on March 29, 2019 remain high.

3. Sustainable, cleantech exports

If you’re involved in the clean tech and sustainability sector, 2018 should be a strong year for you. Despite the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, global regulations are still trending towards stricter environmental and emissions regulations, requiring businesses to invest in cleaner technology in order to meet those standards. According to EDC President and CEO Benoit Daignault, total global investment in cleantech has now exceeded $1 trillion and will reach $2.5 trillion by 2020.

Canada in particular is placing great emphasis on this industry. The Canadian government promised $1 billion towards clean tech in its 2017 budget for R&D. The Trade Commissioner Service is also hiring 15 new Trade Commissioners to focus specifically on cleantech.

4. India, Brazil, and New Zealand – the rising stars of global trade

If you’re looking for new markets over the next 12 months, Morgan Stanley recommends you take a hard look at India. They argue the country’s increased digitization, new tax laws and younger demographics present a bright future, and predict 7.5% GDP growth in 2018. Morgan Stanley also predicts that India will be the world’s fastest growing economy over the coming decade.

Brazil will also see a quick recession recovery, growing an expected by 3.1% in 2018, according to the Brazilian government.

If you’re more interested in fully developed markets, Forbes ranked New Zealand second on its 2018 Best Countries for Doing Business rankings, citing its 3.6% economic growth in 2017, among other factors. The country also ranked highly in several categories for ease of doing business, including first in IP rights, bureaucracy/red tape levels surrounding business, and Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.

5. Meaningful action to reduce oil dependency

As Venezuela continues to suffer through the collapse of its oil-dependent economy, and the U.S. plans to become a net exporter of oil within 10 years, several oil-dependent economies are taking steps to diversify their economies.

In Russia, Putin’s approval levels are dropping as the economy struggles through lower oil revenues. Despite making fiscal changes to reduce the national budget’s dependence on oil revenues, he may push for new measures to improve his chances in the country’s 2018 presidential elections.

Saudi Arabia has plans to sell about 5% of Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company, through an IPO in 2018 and expects to generate up to $100 billion for the country’s Vision 2030 program, designed to shift the Saudi economy away from oil dependency towards tech and entertainment services.

Nigeria and Angola, meanwhile, are looking to agriculture to reduce their oil dependency issues. Nigeria, dependent on oil for 70% of government revenues, has launched a new program to increase yam exports to Europe and the U.S., as the country produces 60% of the world’s yams. Angola are instead focused on a broader approach to tap into their agricultural potential, which includes producing more cereals, milk, chicken, cassava, and other products.

6. Banks taking on blockchain

It is practically impossible these days to tune into the business or financial news and not hear a story about the latest blockchain or cryptocurrency development. Blockchain technology, allowing multiple players to have access to a live, unalterable digital ledger, offers game-changing possibilities for international trade finance. In 2018 this buzzworthy fintech is moving beyond Silicon Valley start-ups, into the mainstream world of global financial institutions.

In March, 2017, we reported on how banks were working to bring the advantages of blockchain technology to their corporate clients. In May, the R3 Consortium, made up of of 70 of the world’s biggest financial institutions and created to research and develop blockchain adoption, announced it had secured its largest ever investment. Then in October 2017, seven major banks partnered with R3 and Finastra to develop a blockchain-based marketplace for syndicated loans. On December 6, Amazon joined the blockchain party, announcing a partnership with R3 to allow the Corda platform to be the first distributed ledger technology to operate on the Amazon Web Services Platform.

What will we see in 2018? Swiss global financial company UBS has led an initiative to create a “utility settlement coin” that would represent each major national currency. If this coin is launched, the Corda platform could be adapted to facilitate its use.

IBM is working on launching their own blockchain platform that would allow banks to rapidly clear global payment transactions. There are also several start-ups working on digitizing the bill of lading process.

2018 could be the year some of the blockchain-based payment initiatives move from development to adoption.

7. Adoption of futuristic supply chain technology

Machine learning, automation and robotics, self-driving vehicles, new tracking technology – all of these futuristic supply chain tools will see major developments and implementation in 2018.

The past year was a big one for self-driving vehicles, culminating with the reveal of Tesla’s new fully electric semi, gaining pre-orders from big players such as PepsiCo, UPS and Walmart. Companies invested over $1 billion into self-driving and other trucking technologies in 2017.

Speaking of investing in supply chain technology, over $4 billion was invested in AI by U.S. venture capitalists in the past year. One application that has seen immediate return for companies adopting machine learning capable AI is Multi-Echelon Inventory Optimization (MEIO), which has been shown to reduce inventories by 30% while maintaining or improving customer fill rates.

Robots will also continue to play more of a role in warehouses in 2018. While some are increasingly capable of working independently, replacing human workers on the floor, others are working alongside humans, or being controlled by humans using VR applications. There’s no doubt that the demand for the skills needed to work with robotics will continue to rise in the year ahead.

8. Planning for the possibility of a world without NAFTA

The sixth round of NAFTA talks is set to kick off in Montreal January 23. But as the negotiations near, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of positivity. The first five rounds reportedly saw very little progress, putting even more pressure on this next round.

What’s the problem? The U.S. is seemingly immovable on five issues that pose major problems for the agreement’s other two member countries, Canada and Mexico.

The five issues include:

• Removal of reciprocity in government procurement at the sub-national level
• Changes to the rules of origin in the auto sector
• Elimination of the independent dispute resolution clause
• End of Canadian supply management of the dairy, eggs and poultry industries
• Addition of a “sunset clause” on NAFTA itself

“NAFTA, by itself, will not collapse,” said Mexico’s Economy Minister ldefonso Guajardo in October, but even if Mr. Guajardo is right, it may change drastically from what we have in place today.

If this really does spell the end of NAFTA, the Canadian auto, pulp and paper, chemicals, mining, aerospace and oil and gas industries are likely to be most affected, according to BMO chief economist Douglas Porter.

Even without NAFTA, trade between the three nations is inevitable. Supply chains between Canada and Mexico criss-cross the U.S. How businesses adapt to the realities of a new – or non-existent – NAFTA, is something we’ll be watching closely in 2018.

9. Cyber threats and IP risks

As technology gets more sophisticated and ingrained in our work and personal lives, so too does the threat of cyber security breaches, which in turn compromises our intellectual property. Sixty-four percent of companies surveyed reported some experience of web-based attacks in the past year. Companies of all sizes are targeted and face the risk of cyber threats from simply being connected to the internet. And the costs are large – the average cost of a data breach in Canada is a jaw-dropping $6.03M.

So what types of threats are growing in 2018? Phishing, social engineering attacks, malicious code, botnets, denial of service attacks and ransomeware are all on the rise.

Ransomware in particular is growing in frequency, attacks rose an alarming 50% in 2016. Demonstrative of the damage a ransomeware attack can cause was the aftermath of the WannaCry attack in May 2017. Hundreds of thousands of individuals lost access to their data, compromising intellectual property, private customer information, and disrupting commercial processes.

As a business, it has never been more crucial to include cybersecurity programs directly in your strategy, and engage IT professionals to help cover all aspects of your web-based properties.

10. Demand for global trade skills higher than ever

Despite continuing turmoil and uncertainty on the global political stage, Canadian businesses still hold an optimistic outlook about their export opportunities. According to Export Development Canada’s Fall 2017 Survey, the majority of respondents believe that export sales will increase in 2018, citing new opportunities, growing demand, and expansion into new markets as stimulating factors.

As more businesses of all sizes get involved in international markets, the demand for talent skilled in global trade processes, is also growing.

“We hear from exporters all the time that knowledge is one of the most important tools for building international success,” said EDC Senior VP, Business Development Mairead Lavery.

In 2017, the FITTskills international trade training program underwent a major update, including the addition of 60% new content to reflect the changes we’ve seen in technology, ecommerce, trade agreements and more. In October, FITT also partnered with EDC to expand access to the available resources for businesses of all sizes looking to take advantage of international opportunities.

There’s no doubt that we all face an exciting year ahead, full of innovation, an ever-shifting global political environment, and risks, alongside ample new opportunities for business growth.

What trends will you be watching in 2018?

The post 10 global trade trends we’ll be watching in 2018 appeared first on Trade Ready.

It is increasingly clear that we need a sustainable approach to trade – one that can safeguard the long-term interests of all of the “three Ps”: People, Planet, and Profit.

The first P means guaranteeing fair labour conditions and human rights for workers within corporate supply chains.

The second requires that companies do their part to protect the environment in the face of climate change – by conserving resources, for example.

The third demands that globalisation and trade be allowed to flourish, in order to sustain employment, economic growth, and prosperity well into a low-carbon future.

Protecting all three Ps is certainly no mean feat.

The solution lies in educating the market on the need to go green, outlining guidelines for sustainable trade, and developing robust standards on which to measure it.

Banking on sustainability

Sitting at the heart of world trade, banks are in a prime position to help. They hold the purse strings of the global real economy, allowing them to help finance sustainable endeavours. Banks can direct funds to the growth of renewable energy projects, for instance – and, at the same time, critically assess the exposure of their balance sheets to carbon-intensive industries, such as coal mining.

Banks engaged in the world of commerce have yet another tool at their disposal: the ability to foster sustainable trade practices across diverse networks of counterparties and supply chains. This includes checking individual transactions, loans or relationships against environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks.

The reputational risk department at Commerzbank, for instance – cooperating closely with other relevant divisions – checks on average more than 5,000 transactions a year against strict ESG criteria. Not only does this help to ensure that crucial commodities like palm oil or coffee are responsibly financed, but it also, ultimately, protects a company’s most important asset: their reputation.

3 ways banks must educate the market

We can’t make progress alone. Continued success relies on raising awareness among all key stakeholders, and educating them on how to bring about positive, responsible change.

First, banks must work with wider society, including corporations, universities, governments and NGOs, if they are to contribute to positive development. Encouragingly, initiatives such as the United Nations Global Compact – a group of private-sector organisations and companies dedicated to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – have gained considerable traction in recent years.

Second, banks themselves need to collaborate to foster best practice. Progress on this front is promising. For example, in May this year, 40 different institutionssigned up to the Frankfurt Declaration, which acknowledges the financial sector’s particular responsibility in reaching the UN’s Goals.

The Cambridge-based Banking Environment Initiative (BEI), which brings together 12 financial institutions with over $12 trillion of assets, is looking at ways of overhauling soft commodity supply chains in order to achieve zero net deforestation by 2020. They are also exploring how major import markets such as China can increase demand for sustainably produced commodities.

And the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Banking Commission hosts a “Working Group on Sustainable Trade Finance” which brings together industry players to boost advocacy efforts and raise awareness of sustainability in the trade finance market.

Third, banks should work closely with their corporate customers. Not only can they raise awareness of how to build future-proof supply chains, but they can also – crucially – make clear the economic incentives for doing so.

After all, real and urgent challenges facing trading companies are on the horizon: from world population growth putting pressures on dwindling food, energy, and water resources, to the heightened chance of natural disasters as a result of climate change.

What is sustainable trade?

Of course, having a grasp of what exactly constitutes “green” finance or “sustainable” trade is vital. Just ask ten bankers to define sustainability: you can expect about twelve answers!

Until we have clear consensus on what is green, a lack of guidelines threatens to hold back progress.

This is why the ICC Banking Commission’s Working Group is exploring how to devise a system of “sustainable trade principles” that could offer some much-needed transparency to support companies making improvements to their supply chains, as well as help smaller financial institutions active in trade to “go green”.

The Equator Principles already guide best practice in the project finance market, and the International Capital Market Association’s (ICMA) Green Bond Principles underpin growth in the green bond market – so it’s high time trade benefitted from some guidelines too.

Raising and defining standards

Certification is another key area which could gain from improved transparency. Across the commodities trade, for instance, numerous standards and labels promise fair incomes for farmers or sustainable forestry – but how are consumers and trading companies to distinguish reliable certificates from those that are effectively “greenwashing”?

In close cooperation with major bodies, those active in the trade finance industry, from banks such to organisations are looking at determining what a trustworthy certificate should contain, and how it should be constructed.

The end result, it is hoped, is that trading counterparties can rely on the certificates they use to guarantee a fair deal for producers at the start of a supply chain, promise safe and secure labour conditions for those working across it, as well as offer protection for the environment.

Taking a sustainable approach to trade may be an increasingly high priority for some businesses in the short term – but in the long term, it will be a necessity for all. With education, guidelines and standards, we may be one step closer to making sustainable trade mainstream.

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