The creation of trade information services in developing countries and economies in transition was one of the major reasons for the establishment of the International Trade Centre. Information continues to be a crucial element in the development of international trade capacity. 

The importance of information has been brought into sharp focus by advances in information and communication technology, especially the explosion in the use of the Internet, which has opened new windows of opportunity for accessing and disseminating trade information. 

The continuing relevance of information capacity development has been reflected in the strategy adopted by the ITC's Trade Information Section. This highlights the need to develop programmes and tools that respond clearly to the identified needs of trade support institutions faced with increasing demand from their end-users for relevant and efficient information services. 

The ITC's Trade Information Section offers its expertise to partner organizations through a range of advisory and training services and information management tools, which are based on international best practice in information management.

An Information Management Tool-Kit (on CD-ROM) is available from the Section, which provides further information and training materials (e.g. guidebooks, presentations).

Other information resources that are produced by the Section include::

• The ITC Library's Trade Information Reference System (TIRC) provides details of over 20,000 trade information sources (monographs, serials, periodicals, market studies, Web sites), accessible via www.intracen.org/tirc

• Database of Trade Promotion Organizations (TPO) covering some 1,300 institutional profiles.  See www.intracen.org/tpo

• Database of Importers’ Associations covering some 400 institutional profiles. See www.intracen.org/tradinst

A list of all the Trade Information Section's publications is available in three languages, English / Français / Español. These publications are available free of charge to trade support institutions from developing countries and economies in transition. Such institutions are invited to make a selection of up to five of the documents they require and return it to us by fax (+41 22 730 0578), e-mail or mail after which the documents will be dispatched to them. Other institutions who conduct research in the information management area or who wish to consider a possible information exchange agreement with the Section are invited to contact us directly. Other interested parties may obtain the documents through ITC's e-shop.

Any comments and suggestions on the content of these Web pages and the Section's publications are most welcome.

Trade Information Section

International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO

Palais des Nations

CH-1211 Geneva 10

Email: tis-alert@intracen.org