Joint ITC-ISO Regional Consultation on "Quality Management: Linking TPOs and NSBs for export success"

Dates: 1-3 December 2009

Hosts: Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and Department of Standards Malaysia (DSM)

Region: East and South-East Asia

Intended audience: The consultations are aimed at decision-making level practitioners and professionals in the field of standards and trade promotion. It is ideally suited for CEOs and other senior personnel from national Trade Promotion Organizations and National Standards Bodies. Participation is by invitation only.

Objective: The objective of the consultation is to provide a framework for NSBs and TPOs to find the best approach to develop and strengthen their cooperation to support the international competitiveness of SMEs, given the limited resources, and constraints in developing countries. The consultation on emphasizing linkages between NSBs and TPOs will help exporters address this constraint through a guided practical thematic approach based on best practices.

Background: National Standards Bodies (NSBs) form part of the trade support network of countries and provide, inter alia, information on standards and conformity assessment issues, and usually act as the WTO-TBT Enquiry Point in developing and transition countries, as part of their functions. They have a role to influence the preparation of international standards through membership in international bodies. Trade promotion organizations (TPOs) form the first point of contact for SMEs to counter constraints when exporting and access related services and assistance. Thus, consultations and collaboration between TPOs and NSBs are important to address the constraints of exporters. Moreover, quality represents a key strategic element of product competitiveness in both domestic and international markets, along with price and delivery factors. Therefore, it is a key element addressed within national export strategies.

Enterprises, especially in developing countries, are largely unable to meet standards and overcome technical barriers to trade and, particularly, to influence the development of international standards for export products of interest. In order to address these constraints, exporters need to understand the inter-linkages between the NSBs and TPOs and how to benefit from them.

The challenge for NSBs and TPOs is to find the best approach to develop and strengthen their cooperation to support the international competitiveness of SMEs, given the limited resources and constraints in developing countries. The publication on emphasizing linkages between NSBs and TPOs will help exporters address this constraint through a guided, practical thematic approach based on best practices.

Expected outputs:  

1. A publication emphasizing linkages between NSBs and TPOs based on an expert meeting which will, inter alia, incorporate the key issues, solutions and “best practices” elaborated in the consultation documentation and discussions.
2. Updated export strategy formulation methodology with reinforced module on Quality Management.

Participation:  A TPO representative and a NSB representative each from 22 South Asian & East and South-East Asian countries are expected.
The registration is now closed.

The participant sought is a senior level representative with a key role in decision making and influencing policy decisions with experience in trade promotion and knowledge of exporters’ constraints. Should such a person not be able to participate sector specific experts may be considered from manufacturing, services, or agro-processing sectors.

Paper contribution:  Preliminary research will lead to the preparation of a background paper by ITC and ISO, and a series of concise papers by participants, for tabling at the consultation. Upon confirmation of nominated participants, a framework for the preparation of paper by TPO and NSB participants will be provided. Participants will have approximately 12 days within which to prepare and submit to ITC afirst draft of the paper

Contact persons at ITC for the event: