Dili
<p>The SCOPE-Trade project aims at addressing three important trade-related pillars which drive economic connectivity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and between ASEAN and the European Union (EU) i.e., trade policy environment, digital connectivity for businesses with a focus on micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs), sustainable and resilient value chains. The project will be implemented with the ASEAN Secretariat as well as ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and Working Groups. It is part of and addresses the trade and economic priorities of the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package (acronym SCOPE), which seeks to improve sustainable connectivity between the EU and ASEAN, and within ASEAN. </p>
<p>The Timor-Leste: Support to Regional Integration and Trade project will support Timor-Leste’s development plans to modernize its economy and trade integration supporting the negotiations of the ASEAN Membership (by focusing on the AEC), the WTO accession, and the EU-Pacific EPA negotiations, ensuring the coherence across the three parallel negotiations as well as the smooth implementation of the commitments after these trade agreement negotiations are completed.</p>
<p>The ITC’ Trade Negotiations and Policy Reform Programme aims to strengthen the capacity of public and private sector stakeholders to engage in trade negotiations and formulate policies and regulations on emerging issues. These include investment facilitation, green trade, e-commerce/digitalization, including artificial intelligence, inclusive trade, sustainable and resilient value chains, industrialization, and multilateral and regional integration.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(44, 130, 201);">This project seeks to (a) bridge information asymmetries through knowledge-sharing activities that are made available, as global public goods; (b) pilot new and innovative approaches on emerging issues such as digital and sustainable trade; (c) increase visibility among beneficiary countries/donors and strengthen credibility as a leading technical partner for UN agencies and WTO; and (d) deliver small projects based on requests received by clients as a means to ensure ITC's relevance on the topics, maintain visibility, and serve as proof of concept to leverage funding opportunities under Window 2.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(44, 130, 201);">In 2024, the project focused primarily on digital and sustainable trade trends, with targeted interventions in the area of inclusive trade (i.e. youth), competition policy and investment facilitation. In 2025, with an allocation of only USD 100,000, the project will focus on a few low-cost, high-Impact initiatives. Digital trade, including artificial intelligence, green trade, and sustainable and resilient value chains will be prioritised. Proposed technical interventions include capacity-building, advisory support and dialogues on these critical issues, and some targeted support to strengthen domestic policy frameworks in response to developments in these areas.</span></p><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><!--[endif]--><p><a href="#_msoanchor_1"></a></p><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><p><a href="#_msoanchor_1"></a></p><p data-end="1488" data-start="1154">In designing and implementing this support, ITC draws on existing multilateral, regional, and bilateral trading frameworks to ensure a coherent and coordinated approach to domestic trade and investment policy reforms. This approach ensures that measures implemented are aligned with trade commitments and international best practices.</p><p data-end="1599" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="" data-start="1490">Activities under this project will be carried out based on requests received from countries and institutions.</p>
ITC recognizes that small island developing states (SIDS) face an unique set of challenges, particularly their vulnerability to external shocks. ITC works with SIDS to improve their export performance through regional collaboration, focused sectoral programmes, institutional support and strengthening the private sector. We also assist these states to trade mainly agricultural products that are attractive to niche markets that demand products proven to be sustainable economically, socially and environmentally.
We deliver customized solutions for least developed countries (LDCs), enabling them to increase their participation in the global economy and reach development goals through exports. We focus on creating access to digital technologies and capabilities in LDCs, where current internet penetration is at 27%, as this is increasingly critical to ensure opportunities are universally shared. We also assist LDCs in their bid for WTO membership, and support their implementation of WTO agreements.
The new Asia-Pacific Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) that came into force in January 2022 covers a third of the world economy and will eliminate 90% of tariffs among 15 East Asian and Pacific countries. The agreement will also reduce costs and improve policy cooperation for the benefit of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises which are the engine of most economies. ITC will focus on the ability of these enterprises to compete on sustainable and specialty goods and services.
