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Project 02 — International Market Strategy Signature Project

Exporting to an Isolated Market: France vs Iceland Comparative Study

Field research · Macroeconomic modelling · 14-indicator scoring framework · Power BI

14
Commercial indicators
3
High-ROI entry sectors
6.2
Iceland risk score /10
2x
Risk differential vs France
Power BI
Excel Scoring Matrix
Eurostat API
World Bank Data
Statistics Iceland
Field Research
Field note: This project was conceived and built during my academic exchange in Reykjavík, Iceland. Unlike a desk study, the analysis is informed by direct observation of consumer behaviour, retail infrastructure, and logistics constraints in a market that most European frameworks fail to model accurately. The numbers are supported by lived context.
Project Narrative

From field
observation to strategy.

Problem
French companies systematically overestimate Iceland's commercial accessibility due to EU proximity assumptions. No tailored comparative framework existed for this specific market pair.
Data
World Bank indicators, Statistics Iceland, Eurostat trade data, French customs export figures. Supplemented by qualitative field observation of Reykjavík's retail, logistics, and pricing environment.
Solution
A 14-indicator scoring matrix covering trade logistics, purchasing power parity, regulatory environment, currency exposure, and demand stability. Visualised in a Power BI comparative dashboard.
Recommendation
Optimal entry via premium food exports, renewable energy technology partnerships, or digital B2C services. Capital-intensive physical retail strongly inadvisable. Systematic ISK/EUR currency hedging required from day one.
Impact
Entry risk score of 6.2/10 versus France's 3.1/10. Three sectors identified with favourable risk-adjusted return potential for a 3-year time horizon. Two sectors explicitly flagged as traps for unprepared entrants.
Differentiator
A perspective no desk researcher can replicate: quantitative scoring framework grounded in genuine on-the-ground market observation. Data informed by experience, not assumption alone.
Data Visualisation

France vs Iceland:
the data.

14-Indicator Comparative Scoring: France vs Iceland
Score out of 10 for each commercial indicator (higher = more favourable for market entry)
Market Entry Risk Radar
6-dimension risk profile comparison
Sector Opportunity Matrix
Risk vs return potential for each entry sector evaluated
GDP per Capita Comparison
Iceland vs France vs EU average (USD, 2023) — purchasing power context
ISK/EUR Exchange Rate Volatility
Indexed exchange rate fluctuation over 5 years — key currency risk indicator
Tools & Methods
Power BI Excel Scoring Matrix Eurostat API World Bank Open Data Statistics Iceland French Customs Data Comparative Scoring Framework Field Research Risk-Return Modelling

"Iceland is not a difficult market. It is a misunderstood one. The gap between assumption and reality is where opportunity lives."

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