08/15/2026
A good product is not enough to become an exporter.
Small businesses may have products with international potential, but entering foreign markets requires capabilities that go far beyond finding customers abroad.
The WTO identifies limited skills, insufficient knowledge of international markets and regulatory complexity among the barriers that restrict MSMEs from participating in global trade.
Export readiness requires preparation in areas such as:
Market intelligence · Export processes · Trade compliance · Digital trade
International growth starts before the first shipment. It starts by developing the knowledge and capabilities to compete beyond the domestic market.
Source: World Trade Organization (WTO), MSME Trade, 2026