The “Market Research for Finding Customers in Overseas Markets and Establishing a Lasting Presence in Those Markets (Strategic Competitive Intelligence) Training Programme”, organised by the Kütahya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KUTSO) and delivered by Ceyhun Yeşilşerit, Head of the Internationalisation Department at the Renaissance Institute of Change and Governance Sciences, was held in the conference hall.

During the training programme, strategic competitive intelligence methods required by businesses to reach the right targets in international markets were discussed. Participants were provided with information on the fundamental principles of strategic competitive intelligence, target market and customer identification processes, market segmentation, and product positioning methods. In addition, the differences between traditional commercial intelligence methods and strategic competitive intelligence were evaluated, with particular emphasis placed on the effective use of sustainable and reliable information sources.

As part of the programme, the concept of innovation transfer and its significance in internationalisation processes were explained, while examples of data and information sources required by businesses to gain a competitive advantage were shared through practical applications. Participants were also informed about the roadmap for planning and implementing strategic competitive intelligence activities.

The programme further covered national and international patent, utility model and industrial design research, trademark research, competitive analysis in international markets, and methods for identifying market opportunities. Participants gained practical knowledge of the Market Access Tools provided by the International Trade Centre (ITC), including the use of the Trade Map, Sustainability Map, Procurement Map, Export Potential Map, and Rules of Origin Facilitator platforms.

The training also examined free methods for identifying potential customers, while customer and market research processes using the Trade Map, Kompass, Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), and Procurement Map databases were explained. Furthermore, participants were briefed on the advantages offered to exporters by the European Union’s Access2Markets Portal, as well as the Easy Export (Kolay İhracat) and Easy Support (Kolay Destek) platforms provided by the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, together with the Consult Your Trade Counsellor (Müşavire Danış) application.

Participants also received information on conducting sectoral research, researching and evaluating international trade fairs, available trade fair support mechanisms, the use of the AUMA database, and methods for reaching importing companies in target markets.

The training programme concluded following a question-and-answer session with the participants.

Source: KUTSO Press Office.