Concise market reports covering export products of interest to developing countries.

The term 'market research' covers a broad range of activities, ranging from desk research based primarily on printed and electronic sources of information, to in-depth market surveys that include on-site information collection. The latter is more comprehensive in its in-depth coverage of market conditions.

The purpose of this Guide is to provide an intermediate and functional solution - the preparation of short product-related studies using a methodology, one that has been tested and validated by the International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO (ITC) - which would respond to the trade information needs of export enterprises. The methodology presented in this Guide is based on ITC's experience and incorporates the expertise of other Trade Support Institutions (TSI) which have developed similar programmes.

ITC's Market Briefs Programme was initiated in 1986. Since then, over 250 market briefs, each covering a specific product or group of products in a specific import market, have been prepared and disseminated. Enterprises receiving market briefs in developing countries find the succinct presentation of market information a valuable tool in taking marketing decisions and in establishing business contacts with prospective partners.

1. TSI is used throughout this Guide to designate any organization, whether public or private, national, regional or international, which is actively engaged in the promotion and/or support of trade. This includes ministries of trade, other national foreign trade offices, foreign trade departments, export promotion boards, chambers of commerce and trade associations.