International business refers to business activities that take place across national frontiers. Though many people use the terms international business and international trade synonymously, the former is a much broader term.
International business involves not only trade in goods and services, but also other operations, such as production and marketing of goods and services in foreign countries.
International Vs Domestic Business: Conducting and managing international business operations is more complex than undertaking domestic business. Differences in the nationality of parties involved, relatively less mobility of factors of production, customer heterogeneity across markets, variations in business practices and political systems, varied business regulations and policies, and use of different currencies are the key aspects that differentiate international businesses from domestic business. These, moreover, are the factors that make international business much more complex and a difficult activity.
Export Procedures: The starting point in an export transaction is the receipt of an enquiry from the overseas buyer. In response, the exporter prepares an export quotation - called proforma invoice, giving out details about the export goods and the terms and conditions of export.
In case, the importer finds the quotation acceptable, he or she places an order or indent and gets a letter of credit issued from his or her bank to the exporter. The exporter then proceeds with the formalities related to obtaining an export licence from the Director General of Foreign Trade and getting a registration-cum-membership certificate from the export promotion council looking after the export of the concerned product.
In case, the exporter requires funds, he or she can avail of pre-shipment finance from a bank. The exporter then proceeds with the production or procurement of the goods and gets them inspected from Export Inspection Council. If required by the importer, the exporter approaches the foreign consulate for obtaining the certificate of origin to enable the importer to claim tariff of quota concessions at the time of clearance of cargo at the import destination.
The exporter, then, makes arrangement, for reserving space on the ship and insuring goods against transit perils. After obtaining the excise clearance, goods are sent to the concerned port for customs clearance. Since customs clearance is a tedious process, exporters often employ C&F agents for availing their services in preparation of various customs documents and getting the goods customs cleared.
After customs clearance and payment of dock charges to the port authorities and freight charges to the shipping company, goods are loaded on the ship. The captain of the ship issues a mate’s receipt. This mate’s receipt is submitted to the shipping company’s office for the payment of freight. After receiving the freight charges, the shipping company issues a bill of lading, which is a document of contract relating to shipment of the goods by the shipping company.
Once the goods are dispatched, the exporter prepares an invoice and sends the necessary documents, such as certified copy of invoice, bill of lading, packing list, insurance policy, certificate of origin, letter of credit and bill of exchange to the importer through his or her bank to release a certificate of payment. Certificate of payment is a document that certifies that the export transaction is over and the payment has been received.
Import Procedure: The procedure to import is also beset with several formalities. The process starts with a search for export firms and making a trade enquiry about the product, its price and terms and conditions of exports. Having selected an export firm, the importer asks the exporter to send him/her a formal quotation called proforma invoice.
The importer, then, proceeds to obtain the import licence, if required, from the office of the Directorate General Foreign Trade (DGFT) or Regional Import Export Licensing Authority. The importer also applies for the Import Export Code (IEC) number. This number is required to be mentioned on most of the import documents. Since payment for imports requires foreign currency, the importer has to send an application to a bank authorised for sanction of the necessary foreign exchange.
After obtaining an import licence, the importer places an import order or indent with the exporter for supply of the specified products. If required as per the terms of contract, the importer arranges for the issuance of a letter of credit to the exporter from the bank. Having shipped the goods under shipment advice to the importer, the exporter sends a set of necessary documents containing bill of exchange, commercial invoice, bill of lading/airway bill, packing list, certificate of origin, marine insurance policy, etc., to enable the importer claim title to the goods on their arrival at the port of destination. The exporter sends these documents through his/her bank to the importer. The bank presents these documents to the importer and after obtaining his/her acceptance of the bill of exchange, delivers the documents to the importer.
After the arrival of the goods in the importing country, the person in charge of the carrier (ship or airway) prepares import general manifest to inform the officer in charge at the dock or the airport that the goods have reached the ports of the importing country. The importer or his or her C&F agent pays the freight (if not already paid by exporter) to the shipping company and obtains delivery order from it which entities the importer to take the delivery of the goods at the port.
At this time, port dock dues are also paid and a port trust dues receipt is obtained. The importer, then, fills in a form ‘bill of entry’ for assessment of customs import duty. After the payment of the import duty, the bill of entry has to be presented to the dock superintendent for physical examination of the goods. The examiner gives his report on the bill of entry. The importer or his agent presents the bill of entry to the port authority for issuance of the release order.