This chapter will help you learn whether you have the potential to export your products in international markets. Many exporters may be very excited to export oblivious of their strong and weak points. This chapter will assess your export capabilities with respect to your company’s production abilities, quality control, marketing budget, and packaging and labelling.

You will learn that there are several ways to determine whether your products and services have export potential in overseas markets. In a very engaging way, important steps will be discussed to help your company become export ready and address the unforeseen challenges.
One of the major challenges businesses face in Afghanistan is their weak export capabilities. As the research shows, most new exporters are not well aware of their production capabilities, know little or don’t adhere to quality control principles, do not allocate enough budget for marketing purposes and are unaware of the international packaging and labeling standards required in their target markets. For example, when it comes to production, they are not sure what amount of capital, technology, knowledge, and skills are specifically required to scale up their production levels and easily address the complexities of exporting to each jurisdiction they enter.

Production capabilities go hand in hand with production capacities, which include whether your systems, standard packaging and labeling, supply chain and your production can meet the clients’ expectations. For example, as an exporter you get orders from various international clients based on your successful marketing. Delivering a quality product, on time and on budget every single time, is critical to survive and thrive in international markets.

Besides the above topics, the chapter will also explore the company’s commitment to enter into a global value chain with partners scattered around the world. When you, as an Afghan business and exporter, enter the global value chain, you not only brace yourself for the stiff competition in the international markets but also delve into new business opportunities. This chapter helps you get ready for the first step to exporting.