Updates

Learn from the best trade promotion organizations

17 January 2025
ITC News

In a dynamic new digital publication, six winners of the World Trade Promotion Organization Awards show how they increased exports by small businesses.

Every day, trade promotion organizations around the world are transforming trade and changing lives. Their work helps small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) adapt to global economic crisis, conflict, and climate change so they can take advantage of new market opportunities.

In October, six trade promotion organizations were recognized under the World Trade Promotion Organization Awards. They share how they achieved their impressive outcomes in the new digital publication, What makes a winner? -  PartnershipsDigitalSustainable and Inclusive.

Trade promotion organizations from France, Switzerland and Brazil won top prizes for innovative country programmes that help SMEs grow through trade. Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Namibia received the runner up recognition.

Their stories exemplify how to bring the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development within reach. They are especially relevant as the international community puts the new Pact for the Future into motion.

The World Trade Promotion Organization (WTPO) awards recognize excellence in the creation of impactful partnerships, the use of innovative technologies and inspiring inclusive and sustainable trade.

The publication features the six award-winning programmes of the 2024 global competition. It includes videos from national finalists, judges’ and clients’ feedback, and background for the competition. It can be explored in English, French and Spanish.

Institutions which support small businesses to trade will find the report useful.

  • Business support organizations can adapt fresh ideas to respond to client needs.
  • The international development community can adapt proven successes to use in other countries to promote sustainable trade and humanize work.
  • Government officials can better understand the value of national trade bodies that support small firms, especially those led by women and youth, or in rural areas.
  • Media will find uplifting and practical stories that show trade promotion bodies as problem solvers for businesses that desperately need assistance during a global economic crisis.
  • Educators can share cases of how to scale up small business competitiveness in international markets

The 2024 winners will receive their trophies at the next WTPO Conference taking place under the umbrella of a landmark meeting of government ministers that work with small businesses. The inaugural Global SME Ministerial Meeting will take place in July 2025. ITC will release further details in the coming weeks.

The International Trade Centre manages the awards process, which has taken place every two years since 2004.