Exporting Dried Fruits and Nuts from Afghanistan to Finland Business Plan for a New Company

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Exporting dried fruits and nuts from Afghanistan to Finland

Business plan for a new Company

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Zarmal, Ajmal

2009 Leppävaara

Laurea University of Applied Sciences Laurea Leppävaara

Exporting dried fruits and nuts from Afghanistan to Finland Business plan for a new Company

Ajmal Zarmal Degree Programme

in Business Management Thesis

May 2009

Laurea University of Applied Sciences        Abstract

Laurea Leppävaara

Degree Programme in Business Management International Business-to-Business Marketing

Ajmal Zarmal

Exporting Dried Fruits and Nuts from Afghanistan to Finland; Business Plan for a New Company

Year        2009        Pages        51[pic 23]

The objective of this thesis is to create a business plan for a small-sized company named Paktia that will be specialised in export of dried fruits and nuts from Afghanistan to Finland.

The main purposes of this study are to define whether this business plan is profitable and to function as a manual for inaugurating and operating a company. The author of the thesis is planning at evaluating different aspects that are related to business planning in international trade organisation. He intends to obtain a wider picture of business planning in general and its practical part. The author’s own learning objective is to use in practice the knowledge obtained during the study in Laurea University of Applied Sciences.

The fundamentals of business planning are outlined in the theoretical framework. This study’s theoretical objective is to define the concepts of business planning, to create a general understanding of the relevant theories of a business plan and the offer a theoretical base for the empirical section. This study’s empirical objective is to construct a business plan for a new company by analyzing the theoretical section, literature, Internet sources and the author’s own knowledge. The thesis represents the main objectives and strategies of business plan, defines the possible competitors and potential customers. The market and industry analysis, financial plan, marketing plan and SWOT-analysis are included in the plan as well.

As this study is a qualitative research, it was operated as a dissertation-type case study. The sources used in the research are formed of interviews, literature and internet sources related to the topic.

As a learning process the study was beneficial to the author. Most possibility the knowledge gathered through analysis of this topic and writing the business plan for a new company will be used by the author in the future when establishing the company.

Key words        Business plan, new company, export and import process, international trade, SWOT analysis, customer analysis, strategic analysis

Table of contents

1. INTRODUCTION        5

1. The main objective of the study        5
2. Background of the thesis        6
3. Methodology and delimitation        6
4. Structure of the study        7

1. THE THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: CREATING A BUSINESS PLAN        7

1. Why a business plan is needed        7
2. The key questions for all planning        8
3. Written business plan        9
4. Different types of business plan        10
5. The templates of the plan        11
6. The structure of the business plan for the case company        13

1. RESEARCH METHODS        14

1. Gathering and analyzing literature and articles        15
2. Combining the existing information with the theoretical framework        15
3. Evaluation of the study        16
4. Reliability and validity of the study        16

1. THE EMPIRICAL FRAMEWORK: CONSTRUCTING THE BUSINESS PLAN        17

1. Introduction        17

1. Business description        17
2. Business goals and mission        17
3. Geographical markets (Afghanistan and Finland)        18
4. Business style of the markets        20

1. Executive summary        20

1. Objectives        20
2. Current state of the business        21
3. Funds required        22

1. Strategic analysis        23

1. Core competences        23
2. Financial resources        24
3. Industry overview        25
4. Competitor analysis        26

1. Operations        28

1. Import/export process        28
2. Facilities and location        30
3. Transportation        30

1. Staffing requirements        31

1. Management and organization        31

1. Management and personnel        31
2. Contingency planning        31

1. Marketing        32

1. Marketing strategies        32
2. SWOT analysis        33
3. Weaknesses        35
4. Opportunities        36
5. Threats and their control        36
6. Customer analysis        38
7. Marketing mix        40

1. Financial plan        43

1. Investment budget        43
2. Sales forecast        43
3. Risk analysis and controls        45

1. Conclusions and discussions        46

1. REFERENCES        48
2. LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES        51

1. Introduction

In the modern world assumed that business can not be prospered without planning its future. The business plan of a company defines how the business will be conducted and how it is going to operate. (Westwood 2004. 1-3)

To be able to be successful in the current business environment, organisations are forced to analyze their operations in more detail. The author believes that careful preparation and business plan creation can create competitive advantage for any business.

1. The main objective of the study

The main objective of this study is to create a business plan for a small-sized company that will be specialised in import of dried fruits and nuts from Afghanistan to Finland. The intention is to make a plan for three financial years from 2010 to 2012. However the plan will mainly concentrate on the establishment of the company step by step and it’s first financial year.