Meetali’s career in international trade began in 2015 when she transitioned from a global consulting firm in the private sector to the UK’s Department for Business and Trade in the public sector. In this role, she assisted British companies to enter and expand their operations in India, focusing on sectors like Financial Services and Energy.

“It was a complete shift from the private sector to an exciting world of international trade, export promotion, and market development where I generated businesses opportunities for British companies. I provided strategic advice and executed sector-specific trade promotion initiatives to help clients access opportunities, establish strategic alliances in the market, and grow their business in India.”

Meetali shares an example of her success: she helped a single-brand retailer get their FDI application approved to enter the Indian market, set up their brick-and-mortar stores, and sell their products. Over the next few years, the company invested more capital, generated strong sales revenue, created jobs, and went on to become a popular brand.

“I reflect on the role I played when I see their popularity in India. Over time, they established themselves as leaders in their product segment.”

“One of my proudest professional accomplishments was to contribute to this business’ journey in the initial phase and witness their growth trajectory.”

Contributing to UK-India trade relations post-Brexit

The 2016 Brexit marked a significant turning point for the UK and its trading partners. This transition necessitated a fresh approach to trade policies and agreements with countries like India. Meetali found new opportunities to leverage her expertise in the evolving landscape and progressed in her role, moving into market access and trade policy and working on government-to-government dialogues to champion equitable conditions for British businesses in India.

“I undertook policy advocacy work, engaged closely with the Government of India on behalf of the British government to advance the market access agenda for British companies. I worked as a core member of the policy team to create a level playing field for British businesses operating in the Indian market and resolved specific barriers related to ‘ease of doing business’ during my tenure.”

During that period, the UK began developing its independent trade policy with various countries, including India, which required extensive groundwork. This helped Meetali gain valuable experience and a deep understanding of the markets and governmental functions in both India and the UK.

Eager to expand her knowledge, Meetali chose to continue her work with other foreign governments, bringing her unique perspective to new challenges and building a career in the international trade arena. 

Helping Canadian businesses expand in global markets

In 2022, she joined the Trade Commissioner Service with Global Affairs Canada, leading the infrastructure sector. In this role, she helped Canadian companies do business in India and was one of the youngest trade commissioners in Global Affairs Canada’s overseas network.

“I helped clients prepare for the overseas market. Factors such as competitor intelligence, regulatory compliance, market knowledge, and understanding customer preferences were crucial. In certain sectors, the sales cycle can be long and requires commitment and perseverance from business owners.”

“Clients should be prepared to invest time in understanding the opportunity landscape, establishing strong partnerships, and building a strong network. Success does not come overnight.”

Shifting markets, same client focus

While working with the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service from the New Delhi office, Meetali was inspired to make her biggest move yet and immigrate to Canada.

In 2023, Meetali settled in Toronto, Canada, where she found an excellent opportunity to tap into her skills as Market Advisor – Digital Tech for Enterprise Ireland, the Irish Government agency responsible for supporting Irish businesses in global markets. In this role, she leads the digital technologies portfolio of clients in the cyber security and digital entertainment sectors in Canada, helping Irish innovators find meaningful partnerships with Canadian organizations.

Recently, Meetali attended the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to support an Irish client company in her portfolio. Later this month she will lead a delegation of Irish animation companies for a market study visit to Canada promoting co-production opportunities between Canadian and Irish studios developing their own IP.

Throughout her career, Meetali has found that keeping client interests as the primary focus is crucial in international trade. This might seem like straightforward good business sense, but it can be more challenging than it appears. Meetali explains how she applies this philosophy in her current role with Enterprise Ireland.

“I believe the essence of an international trade advisor’s role is to provide bespoke advice to clients keeping their best interest and potential success in mind.”

“For instance, Canada often serves as a cost-effective gateway into the North American market, offering ample opportunities to introduce new innovations. This environment helps companies gain a technical edge in a rapidly evolving world.”

Professional development and well-earned validation of expertise

Meetali’s keen interest in market entry strategy and the various options available to companies looking at international expansion is evident in her career. As she progressed through the six courses in the FITTskills program, she particularly enjoyed the International Market Entry Strategies course.

“My favourite course was International Market Entry Strategies. It was designed in a way that was very engaging. The structure of the course modules and sub-topics was quite interesting. Discussing different routes to market, types of investments, or options like greenfield or brownfield, direct or indirect channels, joint ventures, mergers, or acquisitions, has enhanced my ability to provide strategic advice to our Irish companies weighing their options in market entry.”

“I have applied the concepts I learned [in the International Market Entry Strategies course] in my practical day-to-day job, which is why I find them so relevant and interesting.”

Upon successfully completing the FITTskills program and earning her FITT Diploma in International Trade, Meetali was encouraged to validate her professional development by applying for the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation.

Looking forward, Meetali wants to continue to grow her knowledge of the Canadian market and help her international clients find success there through her guidance and strategic advice on the opportunities available in that market.

From the very start, Meetali Kashyap has brought her intelligence and capacity to learn and grow in new markets into her work. In this she has met with resounding success, both in her personal professional advancement and for her clients and their businesses. We are proud to welcome her to the CITP community.

“I value the industry-wide recognition the designation offers, which will enhance my career progression opportunities. Earning the CITP has established that I am an experienced international trade professional.”

The post CITP Spotlight: Meetali Kashyap – Market Advisor, Enterprise Ireland appeared first on Trade Ready.

Gaukhar Kydrykhanova’s fascination with international trade began when, as a thirteen-year-old, she developed an interest in the problems caused by illicit cross-border trade. This spurred her to devote many of her initial years as a student to doing intensive research on the issue of international drug trafficking.  

“I learned about the important impact that international trade is making on the regional development and reduced transnational crime. But research was not enough. I wanted to bring in practical change.” 

Gaukhar earned the Presidential Scholarship to complete her Master’s program from the University of Birmingham, UK. Upon her return to Kazakhstan from the UK, she was recommended by the scholarship administration team to be considered for an expert job role at the Kazakhstani Ministry of Industry and Trade. Gaukhar joined Kazakhstan’s WTO accession team on a cold February day, which marked the beginning of an incredible career full of exciting adventures and interesting discoveries.   

Playing a lead role in organizing the women leadership initiative 

Women’s leadership is an essential topic in both Canada and Kazakhstan. Therefore, it was a matter of pride for Gaukhar to allocate her efforts and resources to plan and organize a visit with prominent women in business and female policy-makers from Canada. It was equally fulfilling to see well-known and inspiring women from Kazakhstan come to the event in huge numbers to support the round-table discussions. What followed was a series of illuminating speeches, debates, and an exchange of ideas centered around women’s leadership in Canada and Kazakhstan.  

“Many of the interactions went on to result in interesting projects. But, more importantly, I witnessed a broader change in the wider public consciousness that continues the trend towards progressive and inclusive transformation.” 

Another exciting task she was involved in was building a project with the British Gas company. It was a complex and impactful learning experience as supporting large transnational corporations required a meticulous, all-around approach.  

Facilitating many official visits from Canadian ministers to Kazakhstan 

With Canadian-Kazhakstani relations having significantly expanded over the last decade in multiple sectors, such as IT, Fintech, consumer goods, life sciences, and many others, Gaukhar feels proud to have been a part of this growth. She has played an instrumental role in facilitating many official visits of Canadian ministers to Kazhakstan. Coordinating these visits was often a challenge as it entailed multitasking, attention to detail, strong analytical, organizational, and troubleshooting skills. 

These experiences encouraged her to tap deeper into potential and grow professionally.  

“A few years ago, I was selected for an assignment in the regional offices in Canada. I had an exclusive chance to get exposure to the work delivered by the regional offices in several provinces across Canada. It was an interesting project that has helped me to learn about and take part in the processes that are developed in Canada, before clients’ expansion to the export markets.” 

Follow your inspiration in International Trade 

In her fifteen years of experience in the profession, Gaukhar has learned to persevere in the face of difficulties and always to have faith in her abilities. Her valuable nugget of advice to those just starting their careers is to believe in their talents and face the challenges head-on with confidence and determination. 

International Business training that honed her inter-cultural skills 

Also, coming from a country that is home to diverse cultures, Gaukhar has had vast experience in dealing with people from varied backgrounds. However, taking the FITTskills courses helped her broaden her knowledge on the different cultures and equipped her with the practical skills to hone her interpersonal abilities.  

“I now feel empowered in facilitating more CSR projects and bringing my stakeholders to a new level of success.” 

Understanding international trade finance from a new perspective

Although she found each of the FITTskills courses informative and illuminating, her favourite is the “International Trade Finance” course, as international banking has always been a topic of particular interest for her. The course helped her develop a better understanding of the work that she had been facilitating for many years in partnership with her colleagues from Export Development Canada. 

“This course has helped me understand the processes from the perspective of a bank officer. My interactions and meetings with EDC colleagues in Ottawa, close in-person work with my colleagues from EDC in Moscow, and this course have helped me to understand the perspective of an international banker.” 

Learn how to properly manage your cash flow and mitigate financial risk by selecting appropriate transaction methods and tools for international trade activities. It’s all in the FITTskills online International Trade Finance course.

Becoming a part of a community with shared professional interests, values, and passions 

Gaukhar decided to formalize her knowledge and expertise in international trade by applying for the Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) designation, a globally recognized competency benchmark for business professionals. It would allow her to both learn from a vast network of seasoned international trade professionals and share her own expertise culminated from her decade and a half-long tenure in the profession. 

When Gaukhar’s application was approved in October 2022, she felt truly honoured to join this elite group. Not only would she stay up-to-date with the latest business skills and industry-leading knowledge, but it would grant her greater professional credibility on a new global level. 

“It felt like an important milestone opening the door to take part in connecting with like-minded counterparts, who just like me are deeply passionate in international trade, developing and sharing the best approaches and practices of our profession.” 

Spurred on by her achievement of earning the prestigious designation, Gaukhar is excited at the prospect of new business opportunities coming her way. The credential also inspires her to take on a new level of responsibility and understanding while approaching her clients. It is motivating her to work harder on all her projects. 

We’re excited to see Gaukhar forge ahead with confidence and determination, scaling new heights of success as she achieves all the goals she has set for herself—and more! 

The post CITP Spotlight: Gaukhar Kydrykhanova, Trade Commissioner, Embassy of Canada in Kazakhstan  appeared first on Trade Ready.

In a recent press release, The WTO (World Trade Organization) predicted that world trade was set for a strong but “uneven recovery” in the aftermath of COVID-19, with the volume of global merchandise trade expected to increase by 8.0% in 2021 after having dropped 5.3% in 2020.

They were also cautious to note: “The relatively positive short-term outlook for global trade is marred by regional disparities, continued weakness in services trade, and lagging vaccination timetables, particularly in poor countries.”

Considering the simultaneous feeling of optimism and uncertainty in the current economic climate, FITT recently hosted an online panel discussion as part of our Challenge and Change series of events to discuss the next phase of business as vaccinations begin to roll out across the world.

For some, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, while others feel they are still very much in the woods, so we turned to a panel of international business experts to draw up useful insights and strategies that businesses could use to move forward in the current climate.

The event, From Reactivity to Adaptability—Advice and Resources for Businesses on the Rebound, explored

• How various industries were faring
• Shipping and supply chain trends
• Risk mitigation strategy for the coming months
• Available businesses support resources, networks, and organizations
• And much, much more.

See what some of the speakers had to say below:

Watch the full event including a LIVE Q&A with the panel below

SME and industry insights, the new normal and innovation in tech

Bernadette Fernandes – Founder & CEO, The Varanda Network

Bernadette’s global business career began in 1986 and has spanned several sectors. She has spent the last 10 years consulting her Varanda Network clients all over the world. She is passionate about helping SMEs develop their export readiness and connect them to business opportunities in markets worldwide.

As circumstances are changing, and many are looking forward to getting back to normal, what type of approach do you think a business can take for preparing for a more normalized market?

Bernadette:

With the exception of travel…we now see a lot of things that we want to do differently or less of, like not having to go into a workplace and, instead, having a more balanced life.

I know some technology companies that are actually now more successful because they are able to offer alternatives to travel. I look at Kognitive Spark, a software company based in New Brunswick where I live, and they’ve seen an increase in clients, applications, target market and revenue because they offer an augmented reality solution with the Microsoft hololens that provides things like maintenance support remotely to onsite staff instead of sending a technician from wherever that expertise happens to be.

Having said that, I do believe that there are many businesses that want to establish some semblance of normal, even if it’s not the normal we were used to. So there are things that businesses are doing or can do to prepare themselves for this new normal—most of which seems to be around digital transformation. To establish or grow an online presence, pivoting and transformation seem to be the things within our control these days, so instead of sending salespeople to tradeshows or to client premises, we’re now relying on e-commerce or social media sales.

Risk mitigation strategy and how to best prepare your business for market changes

Enrique Sobalvarro: CITP, Director-at-Large, The GoldMind Project

Enrique is an international trade professional, connector, entrepreneur, strategist, and expert advisor with over 20 years of experience. He is now working as the Director-at-Large for The GoldMind Project. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Small Business Initiative at Calgary Catholic Immigration Society and, recently, contributed to Calgary’s post-pandemic recovery as a Business Mentor the Bounceback YYC (a Mount Royal University and the City of Calgary initiative) helping hundreds of entrepreneurs to launch their businesses.

Rahim Mohtaram – Ph.D., Professor at Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Rahim has been working in global supply chains for 15 years and has negotiated and executed more than 155 international contracts in sales, purchasing, agencies and distributors in 25 countries. He is also a CIFFA certified instructor and provides consultation on cost reduction strategies.

The last time we were together on a panel, we talked about smart cost-saving logistics strategies that businesses were employing during the pandemic. Have you seen these strategies change at all in 2021?

Smart finance options to carry your business through all conditions, plus the importance of having a documented business plan.

Amesika Baeta, CITP – Senior Account Manager, Export Development Canada (EDC)

As a senior account manager at Export Development Canada, Amesika works with companies of all sizes, of all industries, helping them take their business abroad providing them with trade finance, knowledge and risk mitigation strategies. She has worked in international trade for over 10 years.

Amesika Baeta:

Finances are always top of mind for a lot of SMEs. Though many are looking forward to a normal economy, the truth is that we’re not out of the woods yet. What are some insights you can share with those looking to tread this uneven scenario?

For many, we’re still trying to find ways to access working capital to support their needs. Over the last year, the support for SMEs has quickly changed to adapt to the needs that we see that they need. The reality is that this current economic climate has come, and EDC is one of those agencies where we had to really pivot to figure out how we serve our exporters. Now, in March of last year, the Government of Canada expanded EDC’s mandate to specifically help Canadian companies take on the risk of doing international business. But in times like this, the Canadian government said, no, we need to stretch beyond your mandate to help non-exporting Canadian companies face the financial challenges that they’re experiencing due to the pandemic. As a result, we had to make the necessary changes to adapt and extend some of our focus and our solutions to support needs like this, literally overnight.

We went into problem-solving mode to figure out how does EDC fit into this and what can we do? What are the mechanisms that we have to change to really grow and meet the demands of Canadian companies? So, our goal was to minimize the impact of this pandemic on all businesses—all Canadian businesses. One of the things that we did is create a business credit accessibility program, or what’s most know as the BCAP guarantee program, which is a stepping stone off of another financial guarantee program that we have at EDC that is traditionally for commercial bank clients. So this guarantee program was created in partnership between EDC and Canadian financial institutions to help businesses of all sizes and sectors and all across Canada to address the financial impacts that COVID-19 was having on companies. So, qualified applicants could be quickly approved to help meet their cash flow needs through their bank or credit unions to help manage their day-to-day expenses.

This guarantee is being served through your financial institutions and it is specifically done in new operating lines or term loans, if that’s what your bank has determined in order to really help sustain your operations. So, to pay rent, to pay employees salaries, to, you know, keep the lights on, and to keep operations moving. That program is there to try and help bring the cash into the economy to help companies survive and really, it’s been a program that has been very successful for companies of all sizes and shapes. It’s still available today, so, if you’re not speaking to your bank about it, I would highly recommend going and speaking to them to see whether you qualify.

I must preface that EDC’s program has set parameters and how each bank or credit union applies those parameters differs. So, again, I highly recommend that you and speak to your financial institution and see whether the BCAP guarantee program is a good fit for your cash flow needs. Now, there’s been other things EDC has done. We’ve taken on more credit appetites when it comes to insurance. We’ve made special accommodations to consider if companies had to pivot their business models to sell PPE or start manufacturing PPE and other types of things during the pandemic. So, we’ve made a lot of adjustments to our own regular programs that we provide in order to try to help companies through this pandemic. I welcome people to come to EDC either through the website or online or contact me directly, and I can put you in touch with the appropriate colleagues in the organization to talk through any of those programs to see whether they’re the right fit for your needs right now.

There’s a number of other programs that have been created through our sister crown corporation. Business Development Bank of Canada, there’s provincial programs, federal programs, some municipal programs have all been done to try and help companies survive this pandemic. We’re not out of it yet, so don’t be too proud to go out and ask for what help is out there because that’s the only way that we’re going survive. I also really recommend that you don’t make assumptions as to what you think you are eligible for. Just go and ask an expert to see whether your business could be eligible for these programs. The skilled team at EDC can also answer any kind of trade-related questions that you might have.

If you’re interested in specific COVID-related programs, there are a number of different resources that you can leverage. Virtual tradeshows that you can attend or industry reports or the Canada Export program—that’s run through the Trade Commissioner Service.

In terms of things that I’ve been seeing in my role as an account manager specifically in the GTA region, I’ve seen how important it is for companies to really have a good sense of where they are financially. So, as Enrique mentioned, the importance of having a business plan that addresses what the current needs are—not from when you wrote it, five, 10, or 20 years ago. You may have revamped it for today, and there has never been a time where it has been so needed for companies to make sure they take the time to stop and re-evaluate and readjust themselves as well. And, when it comes to working capital, that is extremely important because your bank is going to be asking for that organization. Any financial institution is asking to see a business plan. One, they want to understand how did you survive the pandemic, what do you do when you had a bad year and because you lost a few clients, that’s ok, but what did you do to pivot? What did you do to counteract that dip in sales? Are things starting to turn around in 2021? Have you had to start selling a different product? Did you move your product online?

We want to know that story as to what your business had to go through, so it’s important that you are building comprehensive financial statements, that you’re keeping interim statements up-to-date and your sales projections. The more organized, the more prepared you are to answer these questions, we’ll only ever be more in your favour and allow you to have more productive conversations with your financial institution.

The post Event Recap: From Reactivity to Adaptability: Advice and Resources for Businesses on the Rebound appeared first on Trade Ready.

Varun Anthony is a pillar of patience. As he tells his clients, a dose of patience is what helps a brand successfully enter a potential international market.

Varun always wanted to pursue a career that was client-centric. At first he thought the hotel industry would provide the client-based work he was interested in. While the work was rewarding, Varun often found he had to be to be highly reactive. He wanted a career where he could be proactive and creative. This led Varun to start researching new career options, which led him to international trade.

Varun started in international trade in 2008 by joining the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade at the Consulate General of Canada in Mumbai. Varun took the position of Trade Commissioner Assistant in August of 2008. The job was daunting, as Varun was new to the world of international trade. His colleague’s use of tongue-twisting jargon nearly pushed Varun away from international trade completely.

However, Varun always saw himself as a lover of challenges so he got to work, learning all the ins and outs of international trade. Varun applied himself and, by 2010, was given the opportunity to develop the agriculture and agri-food sector in West India on behalf of the government of Canada.

Building a strong relationship between two nations 

Varun received substantial support from Agriculture and Agri-food Canada as he worked to build up this new sector in West India. As the project intensified, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada made the decision to promote a trade commissioner, whose sole focus would be to build this new sector. Their choice for the job was obvious.  Varun was selected from a multitude of candidates, due to his innate knowledge of the Indian market and his proven track record with Agriculture and Agri-food Canada.

After his promotion in 2012, Varun led industry delegations from India to Canada, exploring new opportunities across the agriculture and agri-food sector to establish trade. Varun worked with multiple clients across Canada to help them thrive in the Indian market. Varun expertly helps his clients enter the Indian market by offering his fundamental piece of advice.

Canadian clients, who are brand new to the Indian market, come to India and are thrust into the complex regulatory framework. They go through what I would call an ‘international trade culture shock.’

“But it’s my job as trade commissioner to administer a ‘dose of patience’ to my client when he/she looks at the Indian market. The ‘dose of patience’ is what helps any client, be it Canadian or an international exporter and manufacturer, to successfully enter potential-filled, but yet regulatory complex, markets like India.”

Varun is now working as an Agricultural Specialist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, based at the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai.

In his present role, Varun takes the lead on the marketing file for USDA’s presence in India. He works with American companies, exporters and manufacturers in the agriculture sector to identify opportunities in the Indian market and guides them to enter this key market.

Called on to assist in a frightening international situation 

Varun’s career has seen many highlights, but one always sticks out in his mind. Varun was only at the Canadian Consulate for three months when a significant challenge presented itself. Mumbai was struck by a three-day long terror strike, during which several Canadians were caught in the cross-fire. The Canadian Consulate was brought in to render services to the Canadians effected.

During the terror strikes, the Consulate General asked Varun to visit with a Canadian who had been shot multiple times during the attack. Varun visited the Canadian as he recovered in hospital and had his eyes were opened to the harshness of life.  Varun continually checked in with the wounded Canadian until he recovered and was released from hospital.

The following year, Varun and a few of his colleagues were recognized for their incredible work during the attacks. Prime Minister Stephen Harper presented Varun and his colleagues with a personal appreciation letter.

“It was the proudest moment of my career because I was fortunate to be one of those who served Canadians caught in the cross-fire and I was found worthy to render support to humanity. I still display the personal letter from Prime Minister Harper on my desk, to always remind me of the time when my career in international trade brought me face-to-face with citizens of the world. They were in peril and, in a small way, I was able to contribute and rekindle their faith in life. This was life in international trade and life couldn’t be better.”

“In my daily role as a Trade Commissioner for Agriculture and Agri-Food, the most rewarding and the proudest moments of my job was when a client who I have advised, guided and worked with to enter the Indian market actually does successfully enter the market and has their quality Canadian products placed on the retail shelves of this dynamic, diverse and complex market.”

Honoured and equipped to serve his clients 

Varun had already developed considerable skills in his role as trade commissioner, yet he wanted to enhance them even further. The FITTskills courses offered Varun exactly what he was looking for. Varun earned his FITTskills diploma, which set him on the path to his CITP®|FIBP® designation.

I truly believe that attaining the CITP®|FIBP® designation is the attainment of Nirvana in international trade. Ever since I became a trade commissioner, my eyes were always set on achieving this prestigious designation, which could only be derived by years of dedicated service and client engagement within the industry.

“I knew the path to attaining this designation would mean I would have to excel in my job as trade commissioner. It meant I would have to excel in giving my clients the best possible service, which would enable and prepare them to enter international markets.”

When Varun finally did earn his designation, he had only two words to describe the experience.

“Honoured and equipped. Honoured to be a holder of the elite CITP®|FIBP® designation and equipped to take on the world of international trade with my new designation.”

Varun sees the CITP®|FIBP® designation only enhancing his career moving forward.

The designation has equipped to best serve my clientele on a daily basis.

“The attainment of this designation has taught me the excellence required by every international trade practitioner to be successful at connecting the dots that make up this enormous global industry. My clients have a greater trust and know they are being serviced at the highest standard possible.”

Receiving his designation was also a major part in securing his current role with the USDA.

“Obtaining my designation was very instrumental in me getting this breakthrough in the USDA. The certification formed a key part of the resume and application package. They wanted more information during the actual interview about this designation and were very impressed when I filled them in about the details of this key designation. The FITTskills training polished me up and I still refer to my textbooks when I interact with clients and industry to understand how better I can serve them.”

The post Varun Anthony, CITP|FIBP – Agricultural Specialist appeared first on Trade Ready.

Shriya Ramachandran entered the world of international trade as an environmental researcher, monitoring various aspects of climate policy that impacted local and global industries. Transitioning from that position into a career focused on international trade was a very natural process.

Shriya began working as a trade officer for Global Affairs Canada (formerly DFATD) in 2014. Before that, she worked at the Finnish Trade Office in India as the clean tech program head for over three years. Over the course of her career she has had the opportunity to cover many sectors, including clean tech, automobiles, infrastructure, transportation, construction and financial services.

The busy and varied role of a trade commissioner keeps her on her toes.

“No two days are similar for a trade commissioner.”

“Any given day I might be helping Canadian companies with market access information, meeting with local companies to help generate leads, handling high profile visits or working on market specific reports. A typical day is a hybrid of all these tasks in different proportions.”

“That is by far the best part of my job. The dynamism of my work has turned my profession into my passion.”

Building strong business relationships between two great countries

As a key member of her clients’ international support group, Shriya is encouraged to keep her global trade knowledge sharp, involving continual professional development and training. As part of her professional development, she was encouraged to complete the FITTskills program and found it to be a very practical asset for her day-to-day work.

What made the FITTskills program particularly interesting to me is that its approach was focused on its applicability to our day-to-day work. The case studies presented a real-time experience of how to effectively manage our work.

Today, Shriya’s work as a trade commissioner focuses on infrastructure clients. She is stationed at the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi and is responsible for supporting Canadian companies doing business in India across transportation, construction, and urban and social infrastructure sectors. She also manages the High Commission’s relationship with international financial institutions such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank in India.

“My present role involves promoting the bilateral relationship between India and Canada across a range of infrastructure sectors, and facilitating MOUs between concerned ministries in railways and road transport.”

“I have been actively undertaking several missions and activities in collaboration with provinces and other government departments for trade promotion and investment, both in India and Canada. These projects have given me sound knowledge of the federal government structure in both countries, as well as the environment for doing business in both Canada and India.  As an infrastructure champion, I develop sector strategy and reports for India, along with briefing notes for senior officials at the High Commission and visiting missions.”

Living up to high expectations as a global trade expert

It’s inspiring to see how much Shriya enjoys, and takes pride in, the work that she does as a trade commissioner.

“Trade promotion supplemented by client success is a perfect blend to quantify the work that we do as trade commissioners. These particular achievements go a long way in instilling a sense of trust in the relationships that we share with our clients.”

“When a client approaches you, they believe that you have the ability to guide them in the right direction when it comes to working in a new market. This by virtue makes trade commissioners accountable for the work we do, and the support that we provide has a direct impact on our clients’ decisions.”

This impact has been demonstrated through some notably rewarding moments with clients during her time at the High Commission.

“I was very happy to be able to convince a client who had no predisposition towards India to sign a deal which has now made India their priority market, to much success.”

“I found it incredibly rewarding to help another client, who has been in the market for over four years, to get that one big break which transformed their business in India. I was able to assist this client in going from having no projects to being loaded with over a dozen projects, keeping them busy for over a year with substantial revenue flowing in.”

These client success stories reinforced Shriya’s commitment to global trade and the work that she does in India as a Canadian trade commissioner.  To demonstrate this level of expertise and engagement, she sought the elite designation that would signify her status in her field.

The CITP®|FIBP® is the only professional trade designation of its kind that focuses on the promotion and development of international business professionals who engage in a variety of roles and functions within organizations working on a global scale.

Shriya emphasises that the designation for her has real meaning because of the hard work and dedication that went into earning it.

“As important as earning the CITP®|FIBP® title, for me, was the process that has enabled me to demonstrate the complex skills and knowledge required to engage in international business. The FITTskills courses and CITP®|FIBP® designation have definitely broadened my horizons and professional network.”

“Earning the designation has created a strong foundation to understand the dynamics of global trade, while instilling a sense of confidence to improve my services in international business. Becoming an elite CITP®|FIBP® has absolutely honed my ability to make advancements in this field.”

Sharing the secrets to success

Leveraging her strong commitment towards promoting commercial engagement between India and Canada, Shriya has constantly outperformed her assigned targets on economic outcomes for Canada. Her commitment to client satisfaction and dedication to her work has always been appreciated by her peers and seniors, most remarkably with a reward for client services.

“The highlight of my stint at the High Commission has been the recognition for my outstanding performance in client services for 2015-2016. The award was purely on merit for providing exceptional client service to Canadian clients.”

We asked Shriya the secret to providing the highest level of service to her clients.

“I have always responded in a timely manner, with holistic and helpful solutions that meet the client’s needs. I have never let personal time conflict with my work, and have ensured that I look out for my clients’ needs, and put their requirements first and foremost.”

We’re proud to have dedicated professionals like Shriya representing the elite CITP®|FIBP® designation around the world.

The post Shriya Ramachandran, CITP|FIBP – Trade Commissioner (Infrastructure) appeared first on Trade Ready.

Nadine Storey, CITP|FIBP has been a Trade Commissioner in the Investment and Fintech sectors at Canada’s High Commission to the UK since 2013.

It wasn’t originally Nadine’s plan to embark on an international trade career. In fact, as a student at McGill University in Montreal, she had briefly considered a business career before steering her career path towards other goals.

“Though I have always been interested in business, some might say I ended up working in international trade despite my best efforts to avoid it! I began my undergraduate degree in commerce, and seemed destined for a career in finance or accounting before I decided that, actually, my true passion was international history. I transferred to the Arts faculty after my freshman year to study 20^th century Cold War history, and four years later I moved to London to complete my Master’s Degree in International History.”

As she wrapped up her Master’s at the London School of Economics, however, the job market started shifting her interests in a different direction.

“I thought I would work in policy for a think tank after graduation, but as a bilingual Canadian living in London, I also applied to work at the High Commission in London. I was hired by the Immigration Department, where I worked for 5 years.”

Her first role there was Programme Assistant, processing Skilled Worker Permanent Resident applications and conducting inspections to identify and proactively reduce the number of fraudulent applications.

She then became an Academic Relations Officer, promoting Canadian studies through research, events and relationships with key stakeholders.

Eventually, her career came full circle back to international business when she accepted her current role as a Trade Commissioner.

“A temporary position in the High Commission’s Trade team opened up which soon lead to a permanent one. Before I knew it, I was spending my days working with UK and Canadian businesses, helping them enter new markets and develop their businesses! So, I guess you could say that international trade was something I just couldn’t resist, even when I thought I had moved away from it.”

Helping the little guys and meeting the big shots

Both in her current role as Trade Commissioner and in her previous roles with the Canadian government in London, Nadine has been able to meet high-profile visitors from all walks of life.

“Working in a diplomatic mission in London representing Canada is a true privilege, and I have been exposed to things I think most Canadians only dream of. That has included meeting various Prime Ministers and Ministers, the Royal Family, Olympians, and Canadian cultural icons.”

Promoting Canada to a UK audience is very rewarding, and I feel deeply honoured to spend my days helping to raise the profile of Canada and Canadians on the global stage.

In her three years as a Trade Commissioner, she has also taken great pride in the work she has done with SMEs in the UK looking to expand into Canada. Nadine finds it particularly rewarding as they face greater obstacles than major companies or corporations to make their export dreams a reality. She values the relationships she has built through these meetings, and the courage required for many of these companies to take the leap into the Canadian market.

“I get to meet with the founders and directors of all sorts of companies, whether they be technology, energy, or agriculture companies, and learn about what drove them to start their businesses. They are so passionate about their companies, and have made great sacrifices for the success of their enterprise.”

“Being quite risk-averse myself, I really admire their entrepreneurial spirit. It is very rewarding to be able to provide assistance to a company who otherwise wouldn’t know where to begin with their expansion plan, and even better if I can help them realize that Canada is the ideal location for their next international office.”

It’s OK to ask for help when you want to go global

After meeting with so many companies, Nadine has gained a new appreciation for the communal effort needed for many SMEs to succeed internationally. As a result, she implores any small business trying to make it in global markets to reach out for help, no matter how well they know their own business and products.

Don’t be afraid to ask for support! It is not enough to understand your product well, since growing and scaling a business internationally with success is a very difficult thing to do.

“You need to rely on the resources available to you (like the Trade Commissioner Service) before you enter a market, so that you ensure you understand your potential in that market, and have a reliable network on the ground.”

“We encourage the companies we work with to seek our support, as well as that of other organizations such as the UK Department of International Trade, to make sure they are well-equipped to do business abroad.”

She also emphasizes the importance of seeking assistance for those who are expanding to a new market for the first time, and especially those who are just starting to explore international market entry options.

Even with many years of domestic experience, each market has its own challenges which need to be considered and planned for to survive in that market.

“Far too often the companies I work with assume they will succeed in North America, for instance, when they have never sold outside of Europe, or even the UK. There are many hurdles in international trade, but if you are prepared to meet them, rather than caught off guard, you will be one step ahead of your competitors!”

Equipping herself to handle any situation in the international trade world

Interested in finding new ways to better help her clients, Nadine seized the opportunity to take FITTskills courses when offered by Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

“I thought this would be a great opportunity to increase my understanding of international trade, and become a more proficient and skilled trade commissioner.”

Balancing the her studies with full-time work was a challenge. Fortunately, she was able to work through the online courses as they fit into her free time during the summer evenings, and her hard work has paid off.

“It was rewarding, as I was able to see the practical application of the topics the course was covering in the work that I do. Whether it was Legal Aspects of International Trade, Global Supply Chain Management, or International Trade Finance, the courses covered real issues that the businesses I work with encounter every day.”

Once Nadine completed the FITTskills program and earned her FITT Diploma in International Trade, she successfully applied for her elite CITP®|FIBP® designation to reflect her international trade knowledge, commitment and enthusiasm.

“I was pleased to have earned the designation and can see that I have joined a group of very like-minded individuals, who are passionate about international trade and helping businesses succeed.”

With her new skills and designation in hand, she now feels that she is ready to take on any situation that comes her way.

As a Trade Commissioner, understanding the basic tenets of international trade that FITT covers is key. I think that having completed the program, coupled with my on the job experience, I will be better equipped to deal with any challenging situations I encounter, and of more use to the companies I work with.

As Canada and the UK continue to build their trade relationship, Nadine will be playing a central part in helping companies in both countries grow and succeed on both sides of the Atlantic.

The post Nadine Storey, CITP|FIBP – Trade Commissioner appeared first on Trade Ready.

Gabriel is a Trade Commissioner at the Embassy of Canada in Saudi Arabia, responsible for the Infrastructure and Information Communication and Technology (ICT) sectors.

As an international trade specialist at the Embassy of Canada, Gabriel drives business and revenue growth for large companies in diverse industries. He analyzes, identifies and facilitates multimillion dollar international business opportunities, adding value by matching each company with appropriate partners in the Mid East and East Asia regions.

Finding his way to Saudi Arabia

Gabriel’s global trade career began far away from his current posting in Saudi Arabia, in a finance position in Boston, MA.

Gabriel first went to school to obtain a BComm in Finance from Concordia University in Montreal, graduating in 2010.

“I got a job at a hedge fund in Boston. Serving as Financial Analyst for Gottex Fund Management, I measured fund performance, performed due diligence and prepared quantitative reports for investment programs from 2010 – 2011.”

It was while working as a financial analyst that Gabriel first discovered he wanted to pursue a more international career, applying for post-graduate studies in International Management at Royal Holloway, University of London.

I realized that I wanted to expand my horizons and continue to engage myself internationally, whereby I discovered a role that complements my interests in international trade.

Building business relationships at the highest level

As a trade commissioner at the Embassy of Canada in Saudi Arabia, Gabriel’s day consists of gathering intelligence on the local market and connecting Canadian companies with qualified local contacts.

He works hard to advance Canada’s presence in Mid East markets, using his project leadership skills and devising market penetration strategies that highlight the strengths of Canadian companies. He also makes use of his language proficiencies in English, Arabic, French and Chinese to liaise with clients in their native language, a valuable asset in forming international business relationships.

Gabriel finds the opportunities to use these skills at an official, high-stakes level to be the most thrilling.

The most exciting projects are high-level Canadian government visits to advance commercial interests in Saudi Arabia.

One of the projects he’s proudest of is connecting one of Saudi Arabia’s largest companies with a Canadian company, forming a profitable new relationship for both parties.

“I brought together a Canadian company, AirG, with Saudi’s largest telecom, STC, building a strong foundation for new business development. Their relationship is projected to generate 3-4 Million CAD annual revenue and has strong growth potential. I achieved this by networking with industry experts and Saudi government officials to extract market intelligence and critically analyze market conditions.”

Gabriel has worked on many other projects bringing Canadian and Saudi Arabian businesses together to a successful end.

“By gathering timely market information, developing a strong market strategy, vetting potential partners and meeting with key decision-makers, I enabled a Canadian company, Arconas, to secure an extremely competitive project valued at more than half a million dollars to install public seating at King Fahad Int’l Airport.”

He has also contributed to new business opportunities in East Asia by networking with associates in China and Hong Kong and connecting them with Canadian companies to promote international partnerships.

What it takes to be an international success

For all of his hard work and results-driven successes in his role, the Canadian Embassy to Saudi Arabia recognized Gabriel with a prestigious award in May 2015.

“I was presented an outstanding performance award, handed by the former Canadian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia for my excellent contribution to our Embassy. I’ve earned this by working hard and focusing on building myself to progressively become better at my role and serve the whole department.”

Gabriel saw the FITTskills International Business Program as a way to further improve his skills and better serve the Embassy. He took all the FITTskills courses online, enabling him to easily complete the program and apply for his elite CITP®|FIBP® designation from his location in Riyadh, halfway around the world.

The FITTskills courses were productive and useful to my role, as I am now able to comprehend different types of international trade and distinguish them better. This gives my clients a higher satisfaction in the quality of responses I am able to provide them.

On top of improving his job performance, earning the CITP®|FIBP® designation has given him confidence in his professional standing as an international trade practitioner, accredited with the world’s leading import/export credentials.

“I feel that earning the CITP®|FIBP® designation gives me a competitive advantage in the everyday work I do. I foresee this designation complementing my experience to help show the world my capabilities as an international trade specialist.”

Gabriel takes pride in all aspects of his position at the Canadian Embassy, contributing to the organization in many ways, outside of his key responsibilities of forming business relationships.

He has co-chaired the Occupational Health and Safety Committee (OHSC), ensuring acceptable work conditions for all staff members at the Canadian Embassy. He also served as Social Media Leader for the Commercial Section at the Embassy. One of his tasks in this leadership position was to launch and advocate for social media initiatives in compliance with Federal Digital Diplomacy Act.

With a strong international background, multilingual communication skills, collaborative relationship-building and team leadership attributes, Gabriel’s career is heading in a great direction.

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Alejandro’s interest in global trade began very early in life, choosing to study it in school and then channeling that enthusiasm into a successful career.

“I have always found international trade fascinating and that is why I decided to major in international business.”

He showed a strong aptitude for international business while studying, and was given an opportunity to work in the international division of the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture.

I participated in several trade development and international cooperation projects. I also had the opportunity to participate in the negotiations of some of the free trade agreements that Mexico has in place, such as those with the European Union, the European Free Trade Association and Central America.

This was pretty impressive stuff for an undergrad. Alejandro graduated from the Universidad Panamericana in Mexico City in 1999, earning a B.A. in management with a major in international trade.

Making a major impact on Mexican agriculture

After a year in his undergraduate position as Special Services Executive at the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture, Alejandro moved on to a position with the Ministry as Chief of the Agriculture Policy Department. In this role he analyzed the agri-food policies of Mexico’s main trading partners and assessed their impact on international trade.

He was also responsible for coordinating with industry to determine the position of the Mexican agri-food sector for the negotiation of international free trade agreements with the European Union, Israel and Central America.

Alejandro stayed with the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture until 2002, holding the subsequent positions of Subdirector of Economic Studies and Agricultural Specialist. In the latter role, he represented the Mexican agri-food sector in the negotiation of international trade agreements to facilitate the access of Mexican products to target markets overseas.

Excitingly, he also coordinated the participation of Mexico in multilateral forums such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). He was further charged with promoting business opportunities for Mexican agri-food companies in key foreign markets such as Canada, the U.S., the European Union and Japan.

Advocating for a key industry in his country’s economy

In May 2002, Alejandro had the opportunity to take on a position as Trade Commissioner for Agri-food at the Canadian Embassy in Mexico, where he covers agriculture, food, beverages, fisheries and biotechnology.

“One of my main roles is to act as liaison to advocate with the Mexican authorities for the resolution of market access issues (sanitary, technical, etc), affecting exports of Canadian products to Mexico. In addition, I monitor on a daily basis any changes to the Mexican regulatory framework and provide advice to Canadian exporters about the regulations their products must comply with to be imported into Mexico.”

“I also participate in market development activities for Canadian products in Mexico, and assist Canadian exporters facing problems with the customs clearance of their shipments at the Mexican border.”

While working as a trade commissioner, Alejandro decided to supplement his two existing degrees by taking some targeted training in order to keep his knowledge fresh. He enrolled in both in-class and online FITTskills courses to complete his training in a format that worked best with his learning style and schedule.

My experience taking the FITTskills courses was excellent. The courses allowed me to refresh my knowledge and learn new things about international trade, which are very useful for my work. The training also allowed me to be better prepared for supporting those Canadian exporters wishing to export their products to Mexico, which is one of my roles at my current job.

Representing his industry with pride

Alejandro successfully completed the program in December 2014 and decided to demonstrate his level of expertise and commitment to global trade by applying for his CITP®|FIBP® designation.

“I chose to apply for the CITP®|FIBP® designation because I believe it is important to continue learning every day and keep abreast of the constantly changing trends of international trade. I feel very honoured to have earned such a prestigious designation, which has helped to deepen my specialization in international trade.”

“I foresee this designation playing an important role in my future career, and believe that it could open the door for further growth within my organization or other organizations interested in having the services of a certified international trade practitioner. I also believe that the network of contacts with other CITP®|FIBP®s will be very helpful for my career advancement in the future.”

During his time as a trade commissioner, Alejandro has had a chance to be part of many fascinating projects, but one stands out as a particularly gratifying experience.

“I have worked on many interesting projects throughout my career, but I would say that one of the most relevant was when we were able to re-establish access to Mexico for most Canadian beef products after the market was closed due to the BSE case (mad cow), which occurred in Canada in 2003. This required intensive negotiations, communications and representations with the Mexican authorities. The Mexican market is very important for Canadian beef exports, so this was a significant achievement. The resolution of these types of issues has contributed to a growth of more than 50% of Canadian agri-food exports to Mexico over the last 10 years.”

For his efforts on this key project, Alejandro was recognized with the Head of the Public Service Award from the Government of Canada in the category of Excellence in Service Delivery.

The award was given to me in recognition of my contribution to the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and Response Team, which achieved the re-establishment of access to Mexico for Canadian beef from animals under 30 months of age, after the BSE case in Canada in 2003.

And that’s not the only recognition Alejandro has received in light of his achievements as a trade commissioner.

“I have also earned the Award to the Most Prominent Local Employee of the Canadian Embassy in Mexico, for my contribution to the facilitation of Canadian agri-food exports to Mexico.”

“I am very passionate about international trade, which is crucial in the globalized world in which we live. My goal is to keep specializing in this field, and apply my knowledge and experience in the daily work to allow the organization that I work for to reach its objectives, and at the same time achieve my professional growth.”

Alejandro has already made some significant contributions to his field and we have no doubt he will continue to make great strides in his future endeavors. We’re looking forward to seeing what he does next.

The post Alejandro Ruiz, CITP|FIBP – Trade Commissioner for Agri-food appeared first on Trade Ready.

Story told to Ewan Roy by Nadja Schauer, CITP|FIBP

I am a trade commissioner at the Ontario Regional Office of the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) in Toronto, and have happily worked for the Department for eight years now.

A chance opportunity to fulfill my career ambition

I had a fairly international upbringing, moving to Canada from Germany when I was 13 years old and participating in school exchanges during high school (South Africa) and university (Chile). I’ve always had a passion for travelling and living abroad.

A few months before graduating from Queen’s Smith School of Business with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, I attended an information session held by the Trade Commissioners Service, part of what was then the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (now Global Affairs Canada).

This session truly piqued my interest in the Department, and it coincided with a post-secondary recruitment campaign to hire Foreign Service development officers. I started my full-time language training the following year, and in February 2009, began my career at Global Affairs Canada.

This may sound a bit like I fell into this career by chance. On the contrary, while recently sorting through some old papers at home, I found a memo I had written for one of my courses during my first year of university. In it, I wrote that my career ambition was to become a Canadian diplomat working in the international trade sector. I think I was always drawn to this field, but didn’t know how I wanted to do it until the opportunity presented itself.

Why it’s important to learn the important acronyms and abbreviations

From 2009 to 2011, I worked at TCS Headquarters in the Trade Policy branch, working on identifying and resolving non-tariff (technical) barriers to trade.

I remember being copied on many email reports during my first assignment at headquarters in Ottawa where “Candel” was mentioned participating in many international meetings, opining on matters, giving advice to the Minister, etc.

As a newbie to the Department, I was truly impressed – this “Candel” person was everywhere! When I finally mustered the courage to ask a colleague who “Candel” was, my colleague laughed and explained that “Candel” is government-speak for CANadian DELegation.

I also got to work on some of the early round negotiating instructions for one of the chapters in CETA, as well as the Canada-India FTA. Although this was an area entirely new to me, I thought it was very interesting and exciting to be a part of something so big that had the potential to have such a large and direct impact on Canada’s economy.

Advocating for Canada’s energy interests in Belgium

From 2011-2014, I was posted at the Mission of Canada to the EU in Brussels, Belgium, where I was responsible for monitoring EU policy-making development and advocating for Canadian interests in the energy sector.

My posting there has definitely been the highlight of my career so far. It was a true privilege to be able to represent Canada and Canadians abroad, and to work on issues that would directly affect real business and the economy.

In advance of this posting, I had the opportunity to go on an oil sands study tour. I spent a few days in Edmonton and Fort McMurray – it was an incredible experience, especially for someone who didn’t know much about the oil and gas sector. I know that the public has divided views on the oil sands – but oil and gas mining in Western Canada has been a huge part of Canada’s history for a long time, and it was interesting to get such a close-up glimpse into this sector.

While I was in Brussels, the European Commission had just passed regulations that, if implemented, would have had the potential to discriminate against Canadian heavy crude oil products over conventionally-mined/lighter crude oil. I was a junior officer on my first international posting, but since this was such a large bilateral irritant between Canada and the EU, I was given the opportunity to work on this file from the very start to my last day in Brussels.

Together with various colleagues in Canada and across the EU, we worked to advocate for Canadian interests with various EU stakeholders. I attended high-level meetings with the ambassador and ministers, and learned a great deal about the real workings of international trade, trade relationships, and politics.

Though my posting had ended a few months earlier, I was very proud to read that the EU would be taking another look at this particular regulation so that it would be in line with the EU’s trade obligations under the WTO.

I was also in Brussels when Canada pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol in 2011. For weeks, that was the only thing anyone would talk about. It was an interesting time to be abroad, but a great opportunity to hone one’s diplomatic skills!

Helping companies at home to expand abroad

Since 2014, I’ve been a trade commissioner at the Ontario Regional Office of the Trade Commissioner Service in Toronto, helping Canadian companies increase their exports on a daily basis. The two sectors I cover (surface transportation and automotive) are very important sectors in Ontario, both of which have dynamic elements to them.

What I enjoy most about this job is when companies offer me a tour of their production facilities. I don’t think that many people get a behind-the-scenes sneak-peak of how things are manufactured, and I find it incredibly interesting to learn more about the many different manufacturing processes.

Our Canadian manufactures and technology providers are incredibly innovative, and are so good at so many things! It’s always a pleasure to work with them and to be able to help them out with a specific issue or problem. This is probably the most rewarding part of being a trade commissioner.

I’ve also had the opportunity to spend one month working at the Embassy of Canada to the U.S. in Washington, D.C. I was helping the team down there prepare for Canadian companies’ participation at Greenbuild, a trade show for sustainable building materials. This was also a wonderfully rewarding experience!

Learning about new areas of international trade to become an even better Trade Commissioner

I was given the opportunity to take the FITTskills courses through Global Affairs Canada. I really enjoyed the Legal Aspects of International Trade course, since I had dealt with some of these issues when I worked in the trade policy field at Global Affairs Canada and our Trade Law Bureau. However, I’d have to say the International Trade Management course was my favourite, as it seemed to pull all aspects from the other FITTskills courses together into one comprehensive package.

I would definitely recommend the FITTskills courses to others (and actually already have!). It’s great to have gone through the material and to have the permanent resource (the text book) on hand.

For example, I was not aware of what Incoterms were before the courses. When I am faced with questions about different kinds of delivery and payment or financing options, I know exactly where to find the answers.

I then wanted to apply for the CITP®|FIBP® designation because it is directly relevant to my work as a trade commissioner, and on a broader level, to my work within international trade. When I started taking the courses for the designation, I had less than one year of trade commissioner work under my belt.

Although I’ve been active in international trade for a lot longer than that, I felt the CITP®|FIBP® designation would complement my existing skill-set and would allow me to be a better trade commissioner. This, in turn, means I am able to better serve Canadian companies that are looking for TCS assistance when taking their business international.

I think that my CITP®|FIBP® certification has already given me more confidence in my abilities as a trade commissioner, and that being part of the FITT network will prove to be an increasingly valuable resource in the future.

The post Nadja Schauer, CITP|FIBP – Trade Commissioner appeared first on Trade Ready.

Amit Ranjan, CITP|FIBP is a trade commissioner with Global Affairs Canada (GAC) based at the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi, India.

At the High Commission, Amit is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the InfoCentre, a resource that provides a single-window system for clients and centralized information management services for GAC’s  International Business Development program.

The InfoCentre tracks and collects the receipts of all incoming enquiries and performs the research and development to provide the responses. Amit’s team is responsible for providing advice to trade commissioners and staff about effectively managing their data in their respective sectors. He also supports Canadian companies in the arts and culture, consumer products and tourism sectors to find qualified contacts and make market potential assessments.

Bringing a valuable skillset to the High Commission of Canada

Amit has always had a passion for using technology to improve efficiency and empower people to meet their goals. He started his career as a software developer for after graduating from Priyadarshini College of Computer Sciences in 1999.

He had the opportunity to work with some big companies over the next few years, including GE, Hewitt Associates and Franklin Templeton, gaining early experience in international business by providing technical support services and developing and delivering new products to clients in the U.S.

During his time with GE, Amit was given the opportunity to lead a team of three for a project from GE Healthcare, introducing new process improvement plans and quality measures for the team. Within a few months, his hard work began paying off when his team was able to deliver projects with zero defect results. This outcome was so successful that the project was beefed up with 10 additional associates, all of whom were put under Amit’s strong leadership.

Amit was honoured to join the High Commission of Canada in New Delhi as a trade commissioner in July 2009. Through his talents in info management and technology, he was perfectly suited for his role leading the InfoCentre and knowledge management staff for all of India.

Thriving in India’s complicated business world

As his experience grew, so did the scope of Amit’s responsibilities, and he was tasked with gathering information on potential new markets and creating qualified lead contacts for his clients. He has taken the initiative to automate as many applications as possible, allowing his team to be more efficient in delivering on their tasks. Amit found this work particularly interesting and he took to it enthusiastically, working hard to develop his experience in international business development and networking.

“It’s an area that has become one of my core strengths.”

As in any region, Amit says India has its own unique challenges when it comes to doing business. Indian businesses face many levels of approvals, registrations for properties, taxes, and sometimes lengthy processing times. The bureaucracy can be a complicated system to navigate, even for those who are familiar with it. And in a large nation like India, cross-cultural issues are always present, even within different regions of the country.

“As a society, India is very relationship focused. It is really many countries within a country,” Amit says.

As a trade commissioner, Amit was encouraged to expand his knowledge and practical skills in international trade through the FITTskills online international business program.

The training courses were very effective, helping me to enhance my skills in international business, exporting and importing. The FITTskills program also helped me to learn about international trade research, different types of international trade agreements, and how to develop and implement market entry strategies and distribution plans.

After successfully completing the program, Amit decided to apply for the elite CITP®|FIBP® designation in order to add the credibility and confidence he wished to portray to his clients and colleagues.

“Who would not like to have the world’s leading professional designation for global business practitioners? With this designation, I’ve gained valuable education and joined a community of knowledgeable professionals, which will undoubtedly help me to do business in international markets.”

Learning about different cultures at work, home and abroad

When thinking about the future of his career, Amit hopes to continue to grow his business development skills and build more experience in the two aspects of his career that he enjoys most: creating new, meaningful business relationships and successfully delivering challenging technical assignments.

For business or pleasure, Amit has been an avid traveller throughout his career, enjoying most of all the opportunity to get to know people from different cultures and unique environments. He has already been to Canada, Germany, Denmark, Austria, the UAE, Thailand, Malaysia, the Maldives, and Nepal. And he hopes to continue traveling with his family in the future.

“I love travelling, especially with my family. When I’m not working I am on road, driving with good music on. All of these travel experiences are very meaningful. It’s very helpful to me to get a sense of different cultures and environments and gain a stronger understanding of a place.”

Though he enjoys getting away, he has a strong love for his home city.

For me, Delhi means “people with big hearts”. For a foodie like me, Delhi is the best place. The city is very important to India, as it has a rich and diverse culture. People from all over country, with different religions and cultures are living here. There are monuments, fascinating museums and art galleries, architectural wonders, fabulous restaurants and bustling markets.

With his passion for relationship building and business development, and his unique technological skills, we know that Amit will continue to represent the Canadian Trade Commissioners Service well and be a welcome member of the CITP®|FIBP® community.

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