Press releases

TPO Network Awards 2014: And the winners are

4 November 2014
ITC News
Trade promotion agencies recognized for putting in place successful export-performance programmes.

(Dubai/Geneva) – The International Trade Centre (ITC) today announced the winners of the Trade Promotion (TPO) Network Awards 2014. Enterprise Mauritius was awarded Best TPO from a Small Island Developing State, while Zambia Development Agency took the prize for Best TPO from a Least Developed Country. Proexport Colombia was recognized as the Best TPO from a Developing Country.

In the Developed Country category, the panel of judges accorded Special Mention Awards to two TPOs – Enterprise Lithuania and Spain Export and Development – for their efforts to promote youth employment and skills development by placing young workers with internationally oriented companies.

The TPO Network Awards recognize excellence in trade support services, and celebrate TPOs that demonstrate effective, innovative, and efficient performance in their export development initiatives.

The Awards were announced during a gala dinner at the 10th Trade Promotion Organizations (TPO) Network World Conference and Awards, being held 4-5 November in Dubai. The event is hosted by Dubai Exports, the export promotion agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED), in partnership with ITC.

‘These Awards recognize outstanding TPOs that help firms, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), use trade to drive sustainable, inclusive growth. By making modest investments, TPOs and their partners – which include the International Trade Centre – create impacts that are truly transformational,’ said Arancha González, ITC Executive Director. ‘Tapping into international production networks can revolutionize prospects for SMEs and their workers. By supporting SMEs to make these connections, TPOs help create jobs and opportunities that lead to growth and development.’

‘Our winners today are truly “best in class”. Not only are they delivering real value to their customers, they are helping their peers improve by sharing best practices. As the linkages between trade and investment grow stronger, the role played by TPOs will only become more critical.’

Best Trade Promotion Organization from a Small Island Developing State

Enterprise Mauritius

Enterprise Mauritius was rewarded for its Go-Export project, which strengthens the export readiness of Mauritian SMEs. The project is addressing trade-related weaknesses and equipping 20 SMEs each year with the skills required to export on a sustainable basis.

Best Trade Promotion Organization from a Least Developed Country

Zambia Development Agency

The Zambia Export Development was rewarded for its fund – ZEDF – which helps firms meet the challenge of finding pre and post-shipment export finance. The fund makes low-interest loans to producer associations in traditional export sectors. Since 2011, the fund has issued loans to six exporting associations, supporting exporters in regional markets and beyond.

Best Trade Promotion Organization from a Developing Country

Proexport Colombia

Proexport Colombia’s was awarded for its Selling Methodology 2.0, which aims to increase textile and apparel exports to the United States. The methodology enables Colombian entrepreneurs to boost competitiveness and achieve profitable exports. Significant results have been achieved so far.

Special mention

Enterprise Lithuania

Enterprise Lithuania was awarded for its Wings programme, which is addressing Lithuania’s demand for adequately trained, professional export managers. The programme matches talented young people with experienced private sector export project managers. It also provides them with training, thus helping to address both high youth unemployment and bridge the skills gap.

Special mention

Spain Export and Investment

Spain Export and Investment was awarded for its Young Professional Program (YPP), which has since 1974 enabled more than 5,500 young graduates to take up work at Spanish companies that are growing internationally. The programme has evolved as Spanish companies have become increasingly globalized. Approximately 1,800 candidates apply to participate in the YPP annually. The programme is popular with employers, too: in 2014, more than 700 companies applied to compete for one of the 181 trainees.

The Adjudicating Panel was made up of representatives from the 2012 winners and members of ITC’s senior management.

For more about the event, the winners and their accomplishments, please visit: www.tponetwork.net