Press releases

Call for applications for the 2016 Trade Promotion Organization Network Awards

21 March 2016
ITC News
The 2016 World TPO Conference to be held in Marrakech, Morocco, on 24-25 November.

(Geneva) – The International Trade Centre (ITC) today launched a call for entries for the 2016 Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) Network Awards. The Awards recognize excellence in trade and investment promotion and all nationally recognized TPOs are eligible to compete.

The 2016 TPO Network Awards will be presented at a dedicated ceremony at the 2016 World TPO Conference that will take place in Marrakech, Morocco, on 24-25 November. The event is hosted by Maroc Export in partnership with ITC.

‘Businesses all over the world rely on trade and investment support institutions to successfully internationalize,’ said ITC Executive Director Arancha González.

‘These institutions need to reflect the expectations of a 21st century business and be agile and pioneering in the quality of support they provide to companies, especially to small and medium-sized enterprises. At this year’s World TPO Awards, we will recognize the successes and use the lessons learned to raise the bar on innovative solutions in trade and investment promotion.'

Applicants will be required to demonstrate outstanding practices in the processes used to offer an export development initiative; and to elaborate on how they had identified the need for the service, the process of developing it, measuring it and reporting the results.

Applicants will apply under one of three country classifications: Least Developed Countries, Developing Countries and Developed Countries. The first-place award will go to a TPO from each country classification that can best demonstrate success in using innovative and effective processes to help SMEs internationalize and contribute to national economic growth.

The Adjudicating Panel consists of distinguished TPO practitioners, including a senior representative of each of the TPOs that won the 2014 edition of the World TPO Awards. The deadline for applications is 16 June 2016. For further details on the Awards and on how to participate, please visit www.tponetwork.net.

About ITC

ITC is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Contact: Jarle Hetland
Media Officer
Office of the Executive Director
International Trade Centre

Phone: +41 22 730 0145
Mobile: +41 79 582 91 80

E: Hetland [at] intracen.org (Hetland[at]intracen[dot]org)