By CHUANG PECK MING

EXECUTIVES at NPE Print Communications are upbeat after taking part in the pilot run of International Enterprise (IE) Singapore's Export Development Programme (EDP).

'We've been given invaluable help to go global and are empowered to go to the next level,' says Catherine Chia, managing partner of the family-owned printing business.

'Get the basics right and, with the support of IE, the possibilities are limited only by our determination.'

NPE's export 'newbies' - as Ms Chia calls herself and peers who took part in the programme - went through their training from January to May this year.

They learned about export strategy planning and the fundamentals of exporting - and took a first-hand look at overseas markets.

NPE is one of seven promising home-grown companies that completed the programme, designed to sharpen their exporting edge.

'We took part to pursue our goal of going global,' says Ms Chia.

'The entire programme educated and enriched us, trained us and connected us with contacts in our target market.'

Being 'quite new' to exporting, she says that EDP not only taught her the basics but analysed the strengths and weaknesses of her company - what areas it can take advantage of.

'The management plan also helped boost our readiness to export,' Ms Chia says.

NPE now has a better understanding of how exporting works.

'Our capabilities have been improved and we are definitely in a better position,' she says.

'IE's approach made me realise that the only way ahead is to improve and adjust constantly. The programme allowed for the fact that none of us had any relevant experience. IE's provision for this made the entire process a success.' she notes.

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This article was first published in The Business Times.