Michael Strawson

Products from T&T meet export standards, said Michael Strawson, an international exporting consultant with the Institute of Export-United Kingdom. Referring to the exhibitors of food products at the Trade and Investment Convention (TIC), Strawson said the packaging on local products is attractive enough for an international market.
“The design is good and is modern. Often, in developing countries, you see the design lagging behind the products themselves—not here. “The design of the product, the design of the label, the technology that is being used, are as advanced as anywhere you are going to find in the world, and has the eye appeal—the product which is designed for the consumers.

“There is the technical support behind the technical products, which I have seen by going around and talking to people in their booths.” Strawson was speaking on Thursday at a seminar entitled A to Z of Export, held during TIC, at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad hotel, Port-of-Spain. The Business Development Company (BDC) hosted the seminar to give T&T exporters an overview of export management. The seminar addressed such areas as: creating strategies, how exporters find their markets, how exporters develop their markets, how they get the goods to market and how they get paid profitably.

Promising market
Strawson said T&T’s export market is promising. “I think there is enormous potential. Still, you are doing extremely well. T&T is a great centre in the Caribbean for international trade. Listening to the Prime Minister’s speech yesterday, (Wednesday), there is obviously a determination within the country to become an even bigger centre for international trade and finance. “Looking at the development taking place, I am very optimistic and I am looking forward to coming back again,” he said.

Strawson started in international trade when he was 17 years old and worked overseas in Iran. Strawson said he has been running a consultancy and training business since 1997. He is also one of the trainers attached to the Institute of Exports. “I am the lead trainer for Chambers such as London, Manchester, the Yorkshire group and others. I delivered training all over the place, not just in the United Kingdom, but anywhere in the world,” he said.

Exporters’ goals
While here, Strawson hopes to train exporters to stick to their goal. “I hope to show people how they can focus and really use every minute of their time productively. I plan to give them tips and checklists and guides which would make life much easier for them, to help them avoid making mistakes and at the end of the day, help them to be profitable,” he said. With decades of experience in exporting, he tells entrepreneurs who want to penetrate markets outside of their core market, to work hard.

“Export is not a nine to five job and it never can be; it never will be. It is very, very hard work, but it is extremely rewarding. You need to be focused if you are just starting. “Don’t try to deal with too many markets, pick just two or three. Don’t expect returns immediately. You’ve got to be into it for the long-term. If it is a small company, the impetus must come from the chief executive. You need commitment of resources and time and that can only come from the top. Watch your cash flow because exporting can eat up your cash,” he said.