Trade Secrets – The Export Answer Book for Small- and Medium-Sized Exporters was designed as part of the Programme for Competitiveness Improvement of SME’s (ProCIP) by the International Trade Centre (ITC) UNCTAD/WTO, Geneva. This book is intended to serve as a primary reference tool for small- and medium-sized firms and consultants in need of a practical, results-based guide to exporting. It is a user-friendly, affordable reference book for existing and prospective exporters to understand the terms, processes and resources involved in exporting. It addresses over 100 questions most frequently asked by exporters and answers them in simple language.

This version of Trade Secrets is a joint publication of the Department of Trade and Industry South Africa and the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO. It is based on a generic version prepared by ITC and has been customised under the Programme for building African Capacity for Trade (PACT) with ITC guidance by the Department of Trade and Industry to meet the needs of the South African small exporter. The adaptation of the book for the Department of Trade and Industry was undertaken by Ann Moore with assistance from Liz Whitehouse. It is the result of interaction with a large number of small industries, export houses, institutions, libraries, publishing houses, etc. Trade Secrets provides a comprehensive overview of the export transaction in a logical, step-by-step approach, using a question and answer format. A very important element of the book is that related resources accompany the questions thus enabling the reader to delve deeper into a particular topic.

The title and certain portions of this publication are reprinted or adapted from Trade Secrets – The Export Answer Book by permission from the Michigan Small Business Development Centre at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

The following individuals participated in focus groups for the original publication compiled in 2000: Willie Barnard, ABSA; H.A. Minnaar, Deloitte Consulting; Heloise Mackenzie, FNB; Kobus van Staden, SCMB; B.E. Oldridge, Adams & Adams; Basil Howard and Robert Stone, Nedcor; Attie Britz, Profreight; Salome Reinecke, Renfreight Forwarding; Toffie, J.H. Bachman; Mrs Ross, Intermodal CC; Mr Vinoden, Railroad Africa; Johan Botha, Leon De Goede, J H Franz, Merwe Heyns, Paula Janse van Rensburg, Theresa Papenfus, A J Roberts, J M Swart, Barend Uys, Mike and Hettie Visser, William Cawood, Bertus De Villiers, P H du Plessis, J H Franz, S J Gous, Cynthia Jammine, Ntombi Mahlangu, Sarah Mahlangu, Gert J Van Rooyen and Meintjies, G J Muller, Jeffrey Mmogeng Rantho, Karin Rosian, Patrick Sibiya, W O Solomon, Mlungisi Twana, Hennie Van der Merwe, Neels Bothma and Linda Holtes.

The publication was edited by David Graham.