Sci-fi: Economic, 80's.

Am pretty sure it was a Gollancz hardback, 80's is approximate. Earth has become a third-world planet once contact was made with a large amount of alien races. The protagonist notices that the drinking vessels of the aliens are badly designed, missing a part or something, and he designs either the piece or the whole thing, not sure. He buys a plastic company on the cheap. Starts trying to sell the thing himself, and eventually makes a deal with an alien race that has a bad reputation to make a large number of them with a literal deadline. His company kickstarts Earth's drive towards bettering its economy in relation with the galactic economy.

I really enjoyed this book when I borrowed it from the library many many years ago. Would love to re-read it and any help is most appreciated.

That reminds me of Chess with a Dragon, published 1987, which matches on third-world Earth in economic competition with the rest of the galactic community, deals with alien races of bad reputation, and dire looming deadlines.

But I remember the commodity as information, and I don't recall anything about drinking vessels or plastic companies.

Amazon has more information:
http://www.amazon.com/Chess-With-Dragon-David-Gerrold/dp/0380706628

Thank you, but it's not the book I'm looking for. Does sound interesting though, might give it a read.

I remember it fondly; you might enjoy it. Good luck finding the proper title!

I believe you are looking for the book First Contract by Greg Costikyan.

You can find a description out at:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/greg-costikyan/first-contract.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Costikyan

Yes, that is the one! :) Thank you so much, can't wait to re-read it again.

hm, there's no digital edition of it is there?

No idea, I've ordered a second-hand one from Amazon in book form.

Hm, nope, not found in any publication list. Shame :/

You're welcome. I enjoyed it very much when I read it as well. A nice play on the both the wording and idea of "First Contact". It reminded me of some of the works from Christopher Anvil.