SOURCES OF INFORMATION : An exporter would like to know about the market conditions and business practices in foreign countries. Let us study some major sources of information which may provide the exporter with a lot of useful information.

i) India's export statistics: as provided in monthly bulletin of Foreign Trade Statistics, volume I - These will enable the exporter to know where his product is being exported, to what extent and what the value realisation per unit is.

ii) Import statistics of foreign countries: The exporter can find out the overall size of a particular foreign market for his product, which are the competing countries and what are approximate unit value paid to each individual country.

iii) Import promotion centres established in most developed countries: These centres provide a lot of valuable information to the exports of developing countries including India. The information provided by these centres include : (i) Statistical information on the market concerned (ii) Information on marketing techniques and business practices (iii) Information on import regulations and practices, (i") List of importers, wholesalers, agents and distributors and (v) Dates of various trade fairs and exhibitions.

iv) India's commercial representatives abroad: They can inform the exporters about the export potential of their products in their respective countries, tariff and non-tariff barriers facing them and the government procedures in the importing countries.

v. Exports promotion Counsels and commodity boards: They can provide information about where and to what extent your product can be sold in different countries. They also provide information about export incentive ability of shipping services and freight rates, approximate prices which can be realised for your products and also provide you overall guidance in your export operations.

vi) India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO): India Trade Promotion Organisation has been formed by merging Trade Fair Authority of India and Trade Development Authority. This is the premier trade promotion agency of the Government of India with the head quarter in New Delhi.