http://www.intracen.org//layouts/RSSFeed.aspx?id=48907A programme run by the International Trade Centre (ITC) is seeking to help small and medium-sized enterprises in Mozambique adopt a more structured and market-driven approach to export packaging, which it is hoped will generate more private sector investment....http://www.intracen.org/news/Building-export-capacities-in-Mozambique/05/12/2012 02:40:24 AMITC projecthttp://www.intracen.org/projects/project-development-lesotho-horticulture-productivity-and-trade-development/20/11/2012 10:41:46 AMITC projecthttp://www.intracen.org/projects/t4sd-small-traders-capacity-building-programme/20/11/2012 10:28:01 AMITC projecthttp://www.intracen.org/projects/pact2-design-of-ecowas-ten-network-of-trade-experts/15/11/2012 03:53:41 AM<p>ITC Executive Director launches events in Mexico City aiming to increase sourcing from women vendors.Ms. Patricia R. Francis, Executive Director of ITC, today presided over the opening in Mexico City of the annual events <span class="SECTIONHEADER"><span lang="EN-CA">of the Global Platform for Action on Sourcing from Women: the 4th Senior Executive Roundtable on Sourcing from Women Vendors and the Women Vendors Forum and Exhibition 2012...</span></span></p> <p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p>http://www.intracen.org/news/Women-are-needed-to-bring-back-global-growth/05/11/2012 02:49:16 PM<p>The 2012 TPO Network World Conference, Transforming TPOs’ Business through Innovation, today opened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Over two days, against the backdrop of the on-going global economic crisis, Trade Promotion Organizations will, explore <font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p> <p><span lang="EN-US">how they can promote innovation, improve their operations, and better meet the needs of their exporters. </span></p> <p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman"></font></p>http://www.intracen.org/news/Boosting-Business-for-Trade-Promotion-Organizations-through-Innovation/18/10/2012 05:05:27 AM<p>Discussions on overcoming barriers impeding access to trade finance in emerging markets bookended the 13th edition of WEDF 2012 today. The event has brought together 400 delegates representing more than 40 countries from across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, A<span lang="EN-US">frica and Latin America to debate approaches to expanding trade flows between and within the world’s growth markets...</span></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font></p>http://www.intracen.org/news/WEDF-2012-Highlights-Role-of-Finance-Access-in-Emerging-Market-Export-Success/17/10/2012 07:39:58 AM&#39;Financing Trade Between Emerging Markets&#39; was the topic of the fourth and final plenary session Moderating the session, Ms Frida Libwina, an anchor with Metro TV, Indonesia, set the stage by pointing out that while it is recognized that SMEs are the...http://www.intracen.org/news/Finance-fuelling-the-trade-as-the-engine-of-growth/17/10/2012 04:03:05 AMThe key question during ‘LDCs: integrating SMEs into global value chains’ how best to integrate SMEs into global value chains, had in fact been an on-going underlying theme throughout the first two days of WEDF. Panellists nevertheless argued that a...http://www.intracen.org/news/SMEs-in-LDCs-services-exports-and-women-business-owners/17/10/2012 02:40:22 AMWith the world’s population recently surpassing the seven billion mark and on track over the next forty years to add two billion more, primarily in the developing world, optimizing developing countries’ export supply chains helps advance global food <span lang="EN-US">security while boosting interregional and intraregional trade flows, according to discussions at day two of WEDF... </span>http://www.intracen.org/news/Export-Supply-and-Value-Chains-Take-Centre-Stage-on-Day-Two-at-WEDF-2012/17/10/2012 01:53:49 AMOpening this year’s WEDF at the Shangri-La hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called for the revival of the WTO-led Doha Development Round, and for the need to bring back growth through increased trade and economic development....http://www.intracen.org/news/WEDF-2012-puts-focus-on-the-rise-of-growth-economies/15/10/2012 01:44:45 PMPanellists at parallel sessions at the first day of WEDF 2012 discuss public-private partnership, the critical role of infrastructure to enhance competiveness, and how non-tariff obstacles to trade can be overcome. WEDF participants were treated to three...http://www.intracen.org/news/From-public-private-partnerships-to-competitiveness-and-obstacles-to-trade/15/10/2012 01:26:58 PMEmerging markets will account for upwards of 80 percent of total global GDP growth in 2012, driven in part by trade within and between these markets. One of the rare bright spots in global economic news, growth in interregional and intraregional trade <span lang="EN-US">among emerging markets makes up one-fifth of the world’s total trade and is expected to surpass North-South trade flows by 2030. </span>http://www.intracen.org/news/Interregional-and-intraregional-trade-in-emerging-markets-identified-as-key-to-addressing-global-economic-crisis/15/10/2012 08:02:16 AMThe Russian Federation on 22 August became the 156th member of the World Trade Organization, putting an end to the accession process that started in June 1993. With Russia as a member of the trade arbiter, WTO will represent 98% of global trade. Russia’s...http://www.intracen.org/news/ITC-welcomes-Russia-and-Vanuatu-as-WTO-members/28/08/2012 12:41:02 PMITC in June launched a survey on non-tariff measures (NTMs) in Guinea in response to a request from country’s Ministry of Trade. The survey, which will run until November, will seek to identify and better understand burdensome NTMs faced by Guinea’s...http://www.intracen.org/news/ITC-launches-NTM-survey-in-Guinea/26/07/2012 11:18:48 AMITC and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation announced today that the ninth Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Network World Conference and Awards will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 18-19 October <span lang="EN-US">with the theme <i>Transforming TPOs’ Business through Innovation.</i></span>..http://www.intracen.org/news/TPO-Network-Conference-Kuala-Lumpur-18-19-October/24/07/2012 02:48:15 AMA delegation from Republic of Liberia on 17 July visited ITC for discussions on ongoing trade-support programmes and the possibility of ITC support in its WTO accession negotiations. The Liberian delegation was led by Deputy Minister for Commerce and...http://www.intracen.org/articles/Liberia-trade-support-building-and-WTO-accession/17/07/2012 10:15:22 AM<span>Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) exporting from developing countries suffer the brunt of complying with market access conditions.<span>To make market entry rules more transparent, ITC has redeveloped its online analysis tool Market Access Map, available as 30 June 2012. <span><font size="2"><font face="Arial">Users in developing countries and territories can use the tool at no cost... </font></font></span>  </span></span>http://www.intracen.org/news/Free-online-tool-for-analysing-trade-and-market-conditions-upgraded/28/06/2012 08:09:32 AMITC’s Executive Director Ms Patricia Francis on 13 June met the incoming Permanent Representative of Turkey to the WTO HE Mr Selim Kuneralp. Ms Francis and Mr Kuneralp discussed UNCTAD XIII — held in Doha, Qatar, on 21-26 April — and how ITC will continue...http://www.intracen.org/news/ITC-and-Turkey-discuss-how-to-enhance-cooperation/25/06/2012 09:23:41 AMBusinesses do not have to choose between profits and contributing to inclusive growth. ITC, at an event to be held within the framework of Rio+20, will demonstrate this through business models which turn a profit while <span>also integrating marginalised communities in a sustainable way...</span>http://www.intracen.org/news/Experts-to-showcase-business-models-that-do-good-while-making-a-profit/12/06/2012 05:53:31 AMThere are many opportunities for developing countries to increase their trade in the transition to a green economy.  ITC and its partners, at events to be held within the framework of Rio+20, will balance the debate <span>on risks associated with moving towards a green economy with results of a study which demonstrates concrete examples of opportunities for trade...</span>http://www.intracen.org/news/Trade-opportunities-identified-for-developing-countries-moving-toward-green-economy/12/06/2012 05:36:54 AMThere are new and innovative opportunities in trade for sustainable development and engaging in the green economy. ITC is highlighting some of the ways in which small businesses in developing countries can take advantage <span>advantage of such opportunities at a series of events it is hosting within the framework of the Rio+20 conference in Brazil this month.</span>..http://www.intracen.org/news/Importance-of-trade-for-inclusive-and-sustainable-growth-to-be-highlighted-at-Rio+20-events/12/06/2012 05:20:55 AMLeast developed countries are persistently marginalized in world trade and remain vulnerable.  The lack of success in development, according to FERDI (the Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development), is due to a multitude of factors, one of which is a difficulty to take fully advantage of the potential benefits associated with least developed country status.  This was the basis for a panel discussion hosted by FERDI at UNCTAD XIII on 25 April in which ITC Deputy Executive Director Mr. Jean-Marie Paugam participated…http://www.intracen.org/news/Moving-LDCs-out-of-‘the-trap’/26/04/2012 06:31:11 AMThe financial crisis has dramatically changed the business environment for firms, entrepreneurs and senior executives. ITC Executive Director, Ms Patricia Francis, today took part in a panel discussion at the IESE Business School, Barcelona, Spain, which...http://www.intracen.org/news/ITC-Executive-Director-discusses-new-business-opportunities-in-the-global-economy-at-the-IESE-Business-School-in-Barcelona-Spain/20/04/2012 09:53:33 AMThe principal goal of Turkey’s foreign policy is to secure and nurture a peaceful, prosperous, stable and cooperative environment that is conducive to human development both locally and globally. To this end, and in support of global efforts aimed at...http://www.intracen.org/Fair-and-sustainable-development---aid-for-least-developed-countries/30/03/2012 04:59:19 AM<p><span>Ethiopia has a better chance of becoming a member of the World Trade Organization than any other least-developed country, WTO Director-General <span class="Name"><span>Pascal Lamy</span></span> said. This is largely due to Ethiopia's status as the second-most populous African nation, with more than 82 million inhabitants, even though other LDCs have bigger economies, Lamy told <span class="Name"><span>Mulu Solomon</span></span>, president of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, on January 30 in Addis Ababa</span>...</p>http://www.intracen.org/news/Ethiopia-has-edge-over-other-poor-nations-in-bid-to-join-WTO-Lamy-says/09/02/2012 07:43:44 AMAustralia has announced that it is donating AUD 3 million to the International Trade Centre (ITC) to assist least developed countries build technical skills needed to benefit from global trade.ITC’s Executive Director, Patricia R. Francis, thanked Australia...http://www.intracen.org/news/Australia-to-donate-AUD-3-Million-to-ITC/19/12/2011 10:26:17 AMThe World Trade Organization (WTO)’s Eighth Ministerial Conference is highlighting Russia's accession anda ground-breaking deal that opens up government-procurement contracts worth as much as $100 billion to more foreign competition, as two significant...http://www.intracen.org/news/WTO-Eighth-Ministerial-Conference-opens-with-emphasis-on-positive-and-warnings-of-dangers-of-stagnation/16/12/2011 09:09:18 AMSao Tome and Principe will strengthen its cooperation with ITC following an integrated framework programme that enabled Africa's second-smallest nation to create a trade and investment promotion agency and improve its business environment over the last...http://www.intracen.org/articles/Sao-Tome-and-Principe-to-strengthen-ties-with-ITC-after-successful-framework-programme/15/12/2011 04:25:39 PMInnovative ways of thinking are necessary in order to respond to the ever-changing global economy, according to Patricia R. Francis, Executive Director of ITC. In her speech during the opening session of the <span lang="EN-CA">WTO MC8, Ms. Francis emphasized that ITC is reinventing itself to keep up with the changing environment in order to provide state of the art value to the poorest countries... </span>http://www.intracen.org/news/Responding-to-global-trade-challenges-necessitates-a-rethink-in-approaches/15/12/2011 01:49:13 PMLeast Developed Countries need to become more active in WTO negotiations to reap the full benefits of accession, need to improve the business environment for small and medium size enterprises and show results to donors, said tradeministers from LDCs...http://www.intracen.org/news/LDC-trade-ministers-discuss-the-benefits-of-WTO-membership-and-the-need-for-effective-well-planned-technical-assistance/15/12/2011 10:49:46 AMITC is bringing together high-level experts from around the world to lay the groundwork for building the capacity for women business owners to win at least five percent of contract bids from government agencies. The meeting, the Inaugural Roundtable on Government Procurement on Sourcing from Women Vendors, is being held in cooperation with WTO on 17 December 2011 in Geneva...http://www.intracen.org/news/ITC-promotes-increased-government-procurement-from-women-vendors/15/12/2011 05:42:54 AMThe WTO General Council acknowledged several ITC accomplishments in its report adopted at its annual meeting on 30 November in Geneva. It highlighted ITC’s assistance to Least Developed Countries in their WTO accession process, the organization’s...http://www.intracen.org/news/WTO-General-Council-recognizes-ITC’s-contribution-to-LDC-accession-the-Cotton-Initiative-and-the-Aid-for-Trade-agenda/08/12/2011 11:39:15 AMThe private sector is a key partner in fostering economic development through investments in new businesses, creating jobs and providing an innovative range of goods and services. All these activities have potential benefits for the least developed and...http://www.intracen.org/Aid-for-Trade-and-the-private-sector-A-partnership-that-works/07/12/2011 10:25:50 AMOn 30 November, ITC welcomed Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, to the ITC offices in Geneva, Switzerland for discussions led by Ms. Patricia Francis, ITC Executive Director, which focused on identifying concrete opportunities in which the two organizations can work together...http://www.intracen.org/news/Secretary-General-of-the-Commonwealth-and-ITC-Executive-Director-meet-to-discuss-cooperation-opportunities/07/12/2011 04:07:58 AMThe Moroccan company agreed during the visit last week to test pineapples from Benin and Togo and, if the tests are a success, to sign a regular commercial contract with national suppliers. Further sweetening a possible deal, Royal Air Morocco and its...http://www.intracen.org/benin-togo-pineapple-trade-morocco/19/10/2011 09:45:53 AMAt LDC IV in Istanbul the SCTD was officially launched. As a result, various LDC stakeholders approached the SCTD Agencies to request assistance to better assess tourism development-related needs and to possibly benefit from Agencies’ support in preparing...http://www.intracen.org/un-steering-committee-tourism-development-first-ldcs-workshop/18/10/2011 08:43:36 AMThe 2011 World Export Development Forum explored how least developed countries can make tourism work towards poverty reduction. At the 2011 World Export Development Forum (WEDF), high-level leaders from Burundi, Cambodia and Tur­key...http://www.intracen.org/Unlocking-potential-Cambodia-Burundi-Turkey/26/07/2011 11:09:26 AMIn its blueprint for new tourism, the World Travel &amp; Tourism Council promotes the importance of partnerships for sustainable tourism development.   With global travel and tourism forecast to grow at a rate of 4% per year over the next...http://www.intracen.org/Blueprint-for-new-tourism-A-partnership-model/26/07/2011 10:42:56 AMLeast developed countries (LDCs) continue to play only a minor role in global tourism, receiving a mere 1% of the world’s travel exports. LDCs’ tourism earnings have risen from US$ 3 billion in 2000 to over US$ 10 billion in 2010, increasing...http://www.intracen.org/Collaboration-Tourism-Tourism-development-in-least-developed-countries---economic-significance-and-policy-priorities/26/07/2011 06:09:52 AM