You need to translate’ your export objectives into research objective. Based on what you hope to achieve with your exports you now need to indicate what you need to know in order to be able to successfully achieve these objectives. For example, your research objectives may be to:

• Identify a shortlist of countries to focus on
• Select a target market within each of these countries to focus your research and marketing efforts on
• Better understand the market environment within which you will be competing
• Identify the tariff and non-tariff barriers to your success
• Identify your major competitors and the products they sell
• Understand what drives your customer to buy similar products
• Understand the importance of brands, pricing, quality, features, service, etc. to your potential customers
• Identify intermediaries that could assist you enter the market place
• Identify the best way to market your products in the foreign marketplace