Geopolitical tensions continue to shift the global trade landscape, underscoring the influential role that professionals like Bhairav Raja play in advancing inclusive economic development. As a veteran sustainable business, investment, and recent trade adviser with over a decade of experience working for DAI, Raja has focused on unlocking export opportunities and fostering resilient and inclusive supply chains that offer opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs, principally across Africa, as well as South America and the Gulf countries in the Middle East.
His journey began in 2003 during a formative year abroad in Brazil as part of his undergraduate studies at the University of Bristol. Immersed in an economy shaped by tropical commodities like coffee and rubber, he developed a keen interest in the dynamics of global trade that later led to a Master of Philosophy in Development Studies at the University of Cambridge, with a core focus on development economics.
Raja’s recent work has centered around African agribusinesses, textile firms, and other sectors to navigate trade barriers, gain certifications, and access markets like the United States.
About the author
Katrina J. Lane
Katrina Lane is an Editorial Strategist and Reporter at Devex. She writes on ecologies and social inclusion, and also supports the creation of partnership content at Devex. She holds a degree in Psychology from Warwick University, offering a unique perspective on the cognitive frameworks and social factors that influence responses to global issues.
