International Trade Forum Magazine
www.tradeforum.org 

 

Old business in new ways, but also new business opportunities: this is what e-trade is all about.

The Changing Marketplace: Putting "E" to Work

If communities in developing countries are to benefit from technology, we need to ‘put “e” to work’. Technology is one thing. Applying the benefits of technology to boost exports, jobs and income, is another.

This issue of Forum magazine, "The Changing Marketplace: Putting "E" to Work" aims to help small firms improve their competitive position by using information and communications technologies. It is part of ITC’s contribution to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), taking place in Geneva in December 2003 and Tunis in November 2005.

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Reaping the Digital Dividend

Many speak of the constraints that lead to the “digital divide”. This issue summarizes them: telecommunications access and affordability; financial access; a suitable legal framework; education; and e-government services, especially those that facilitate exports. By addressing key points in these five areas, countries can make themselves e-competitive.

Rather than focus on the much-debated “digital divide”, however, ITC is focusing on what countries can do to help firms reap the “digital dividend”. A collective effort is behind the e-views, e-challenges, e-opportunities, e-solutions, e-briefs and e-trade strategy reported in this issue.

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E-trade for Developing Countries

The global marketplace in many ways is a virtual one, but it is driven by the same business realities as traditional exchanges in local market squares. At the same time, new technologies bring us new opportunities to trade goods and services in far-away places. The technologies also open up completely new product and service niches for developing countries.

If there are real opportunities, false expectations also abound. This magazine issue addresses both, with e-trade perspectives from government, academia and business. The articles highlight challenges, but go beyond to outline solutions that developing countries can apply to their own needs.

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Trade and the Internet for Developing Countries 

This issue reflects ITC’s increasing attention to bringing the benefits of information technology and, in particular the Internet, within the grasp of small exporting businesses, and covers web sites such as Juris International, the Services Exporting Homepage and the Market News Service. 

The Close-Up section, “Investing in the Internet” targets SMEs in developing countries. How can businesses use the Internet to improve exports and imports? Which businesses are most suited to sales and marketing via the Internet?  Are there “lessons learned” for executives wishing to integrate the Internet in their business strategy?

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Articles

E-trade strategy

United States – What the information Age Means to a TPO (2/02)
E-trade Meeting – Project to find Kenya’s E-winners (1/02)
E-Trade Opportunities: Are Developing Countries Ready? (1/01) 
Bridging the Digital Divide (1/01)
E-Challenges: Countries in Action (1/01) 
Playing @ the Digital Game (1/01)
E-trade Briefs (1/01)
E-Brief from Canada (1/01)
Views on E-trade in Developing Countries (1/01)
ITC Executive Forum – Export Development in the Digital Economy (4/00) 
Helping Small Firms Trade Effectively with the Internet. Case study: Malta’s Trade Promotion Strategy (3/00)
Internet for SMEs: A New Silk Road? (3/00) 
In Peru, Internet Strengthens Civil Society. Best Practice (3/00)
Views on E-commerce. Partners Speak Out (2/99) 
How Do Executives View the Internet Today? (1/99)
Investing in the Internet(1/99)

Legal issues

What Does It Mean When You Click “I Agree”? (4/02)
African Business Laws on CD-ROM and the Internet (4/99)

Finance

Innovation, Specialization and E-finance for SMEs (1/02)
Electronic Finance A Cornerstone to Trade and Compete Internationally (3/00)

Putting “E” to Work

E-procurement in the Aid Business (4/01)
Frequently Asked Questions about Business Negotiations on the Internet (1/01)
E-business Marketplaces – A Revolution in International Trade (4/00) 
Back Office Operations (3/00)
The Changing Marketplace (3/00) 
Computers and Cakes Give Confidence and Cash to Housewives in Peru (3/00)
Frequently Asked Questions – Business Opportunities on the Internet (2/00)
Linking the Internet to Your Marketing Strategy (1/99) 
Tips for Service Firms: Using the Internet for Service Exporting (1/99)
Manage Purchasing with the Internet (1/99) 
Small Firms and the Internet: Force or Farce? (1/99)
Using the Internet: Exploring International Markets (1/99)

'E' at ITC 

Ecuador Signs up for E-Trade Bridge (2/03) 
E-trade Bridge follow-up: first e-trade assessor training workshop (2/02) 
ITC’s Executive Director Launches Viet Nam’s E-trade Bridge Kick-off Meeting (2/02)
CyberCafé Helps Afro-Arab Trade Fair (4/01) 
ITC’s Annual Meeting Features Solutions to Bridge the Digital Divide (2/01)
ITC Spells Out Its E-Trade Strategy (2/01)
Trade Information and E-Commerce Training in India (2/01)
At your Service – Forum on the Internet (2/01)
Executive Forum 2000 – Export Development in the Digital Economy (1/01)
ITC Spells out it’s E-Trade Strategy (1/01)
e@ITC (1/01)
ITC: Practical E-trade Solutions for the Firm (3/00) 
The World’s First Internet Coffee Auction a Success – Some “Lessons Learned” (3/00)
The World’s First Internet Coffee Auction a Success (1/00)
E-commerce Groundwork in Saudi Arabia (4/99)
Afro-Arab Trade Fair Uses Internet Café (2/99) 
E-Commerce Trends (2/99)
ITC’s Internet Café (2/99)
Jakarta Meeting Features E-commerce (2/99)

 

 

The International Trade Forum magazine is published by ITC and focuses on trade promotion, export development and import methods, as part of ITC's technical cooperation programme with developing countries and economies in transition.