Singapore, 26 November 2025 – The International Trade Council today announced the global launch of EXPORT READY, a free, AI-assisted export readiness platform designed to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) assess, plan, and execute their international expansion strategies with confidence.
SMEs are widely recognised as the backbone of the global economy, representing around 90% of all businesses and more than half of worldwide employment. Yet millions of smaller companies remain locked out of international markets due to limited resources, lack of expertise, and the complexity of export rules, documentation, and market research. EXPORT READY directly addresses these barriers by putting powerful trade intelligence and structured guidance into a single, easy-to-use online hub.
EXPORT READY combines decades of trade experience from the International Trade Council with cutting-edge AI tools to guide SMEs step-by-step from initial idea to export-ready execution. Users can start with a simple Export Readiness Assessment, which benchmarks their capabilities, flags critical gaps, and generates tailored recommendations and next steps.
From there, businesses can explore 175+ country profiles with real-time trade data and market intelligence, helping them choose the right markets, understand demand, and map competition and regulatory requirements. SMEs can also access structured action plans, AI-generated checklists, and professional document templates to create export marketing plans, distributor agreements, and compliance documentation in minutes instead of weeks.
“Small businesses generate most of the world’s jobs, but they are still under-represented in global trade,” said Ranjani Rangan, Chairperson Elect of the International Trade Council. “With EXPORT READY, we are removing two of the biggest obstacles for SMEs: the cost of expert advice and the complexity of export planning. This platform is 100% free to use, with no credit card, no paywalls and no hidden fees.”
The platform is intentionally designed for non-specialists. Friendly workflows, AI-guided questionnaires, and plain-language explanations help users translate big-picture goals into concrete tasks, while dashboards consolidate insights on readiness, risk, and market attractiveness in one place.
“EXPORT READY sits at the intersection of technology and inclusion,” added Rangan. “Whether you are a small manufacturer in an emerging market or a digital services startup in a major city, you can now access the same level of export planning support that larger corporations pay consultants thousands of dollars for.”
As a global, peak-body chamber of commerce headquartered in Singapore, the International Trade Council developed EXPORT READY as part of its mandate to support inclusive and sustainable trade. The long-term ambition is to help 30 million+ SME businesses become export ready, creating jobs, diversifying economies, and strengthening cross-border value chains worldwide.
EXPORT READY is available immediately at www.exportready.org and is open to SMEs, startups, chambers of commerce, export promotion agencies, and ecosystem partners who wish to embed the tools into their own support programmes.
About the International Trade Council
The International Trade Council is a global, peak-body chamber of commerce that supports businesses and governments in navigating international trade and foreign direct investment. Through research, training, trade missions, and digital platforms, the Council helps organizations of all sizes expand into new markets and build resilient, compliant global operations.
Media Contact:
International Trade Council
Email: pr@tradecouncil.org
Web: https://www.exportready.org
