Dear young trader,

I have been reading through several of your documents.  I admire your determination to step into regional and global markets. I observed from your write up that you took time to study and appreciate the available open markets. Your zeal ignites a desire in me to keep learning. It drives me to continue researching and negotiating pathways that ensure your smooth access and entry into those markets.

Today, I want to share with you wisdom from an old trader. He spent more than three decades navigating the oceans, land and rail. When you see him now, standing tall, you may assume he began from a privileged position. But he didn’t. He began just like you: uncertain but determined.

Here are eight key lessons I picked from him:

1. Markets are open only to the extent that you can meet their demand.
2. You are not the only one with an interest in that market
3. Competition shapes your product into one of excellency.
4. It is acceptable to make mistakes the first time; it is not acceptable to repeat the same mistake.
5. Your product is your best marketer. Develop it to speak.
6. Government wants you to succeed, for it’s success depends on you.
7. Re-strategizing is not weakness, it is wisdom
8. One partnership can take you further than many walks alone.

From the Policy analyst

Elizabeth R. Auma K