Because of its strategic location, Lebanon is a hub for trade and business in the Middle East. It’s a great place for exporters who are new to the Middle East to start because the Lebanese business community has strong ties with its ex-pats. People or businesses that want to start exporting from Lebanon can do so by following the simplified steps set up by the government. But depending on the type of product, some goods that are going to be exported may need a permit, a license, rules about quality or packaging, standardization, or other special procedures. For a business to export or import goods from or into Lebanon, it needs to be registered and have the right license for that business. The Lebanese Customs Authorities are in charge of making sure that all goods and people entering and leaving Lebanon follow all laws and rules. The Customs Administration is in charge of collecting and protecting a big part of the government’s income. It is also responsible for stopping smuggling and finding people who break the law when it comes to Customs and related laws. The exporter should make sure they have all of the correct export documents needed to get the goods through the port, through customs, and onto the pre-determined carrier. Importing and exporting go more smoothly when you know how to use the right documents. To avoid missed shipments, port demurrage fees, or fines for the business, all export paperwork must be done right. In general, there are three steps to the export process in every country. Formalities that need to be done only once to get an export license, the necessary paperwork for exporting, and export customs clearance.
How to export goods and services
The following are the steps required:
Create a plan for exporting
Now is the time to make your export plan, which is where you will map out your plan for export. You can start with the business plan you already use for your operations in your home country. From there, you can make an export plan, which is basically a business plan that focuses on international or global markets.
The export plan’s parts
Introduction to the business or an overview of it. Here, you’ll talk about the history of the business, always with an eye toward exporting in mind. You will talk about the plan’s purpose and what you hope to get out of exporting, whether those are short-term or long-term goals.
Organizational Structure. This is an inside look at who owns the business, how it is run, and who works there. To see how exporting fits into the big picture, you need to make a clear distinction between it and the other things the business already does. This is also where you list the human resources you need and the ones you already have for your exporting business. This section may also talk about labor and the job market, as well as any alliances or partnerships that will help the business when it starts exporting. What the business has to offer. Now is the time to talk in detail about the products or services you want to sell in other markets. Describe their features and specifications, as well as the benefits or value they will bring to the end users in the foreign markets. You should also write about how the product is made.
Market study
A study of the market should also be part of the plan, just like it would be in any other business plan. This time, you’ll look at the foreign market you want to break into. You’ll look at its political, economic, and social-cultural environments, as well as its potential market segments and existing players. This means you also need to look at the current competitive landscape and figure out who your competitors are.
Plan for getting in
It’s time to make a plan for how you want to get into the market you talked about so much in your market study. Again, remember that not every foreign market is the same. They have different qualities which means they need different ways to get into the market.
Clear all documentary requirements
Follow the laws and rules that are in place and get the licenses, certifications, and other documents you need to start exporting your goods or services.
Prepare product for export
You may need to change your production methods and make changes to your product so that it can be sold in your target foreign market.
Give your product to people
Some things to think about when delivering products are:
- Ways to ship or get somewhere (or delivery of services).
- Role of third parties, like freight forwarders and customs brokers.
- The products are packaged and then packed again so that they are ready to be shipped.
- All export documents, such as shipping and collection documents, are complete and correct.
