Trade development strategies

    Overview

    Trade development strategies are designed to reduce trade barriers, identify growth opportunities, and chart blueprints for action.

    Based on decades of experience, ITC assists with implementing those strategies and mobilizing international donor resources. Technical assistance is built into every step, to ensure that partner countries gain the experience to create their own trade development strategies.

    2003
    first strategy developed
    100+
    strategies delivered
    70+
    countries supported

    Why have a trade strategy?

    Trade doesn't happen by accident, but by design.

    A national export strategy harnesses the power of trade as an engine for sustainable economic development.

    With a considered approach, countries reap more benefits from their trade policies and integrate into the global economy. Strategies reduce economic vulnerabilities and build resilience.

    A trade strategy sets priorities, allocates resources, and specifies how to become more competitive. Countries add value to their raw materials and reach new markets. An effective strategy coordinates government, businesses and civil society to work together towards common goals.

    These are the keys to create jobs, boost incomes, increase foreign exchange earnings, and unlock socio-economic growth.

    ITC trade strategies place special emphasis on opportunities for women, young people, low-skilled workers and remote communities.

    Video

    11 October 2022
    What's a National Export Strategy?

    Tailored strategy solutions

    We build on the best of existing plans and policies while highlighting new, concrete actions to get results. The strategy is designed by the country, with measurable steps to strengthen all aspects of trade, from production to promotion.

    We focus on areas most likely to increase exports while making small businesses competitive.

    Once the strategy is in place, ITC also offers management support for implementation, with tailored capacity building, technical and advisory support services, and specialized tools.

    National trade strategies

    ITC’s flagship solution sets out a comprehensive plan to boost exports and foreign exchange earnings. These strategies can focus on overall national exports, tourism, services, or agriculture.

    Trade Development Roadmaps

     

    Rapid solution to identify trade constraints and opportunities within a sector or value chain. These roadmaps can also look at themes like women, youth, green trade, or investments.

    Sector strategies

     

      These detailed plans set out how to create and improve products across agriculture, manufacturing and services industries. We look at market opportunities, investment, support institutions, and the regulatory environment.

      Trade support function strategy

      Vibrant exports require specialized services such as trade information, logistics, branding, and intellectual property.

      National Tourism Export Strategy

      Tourism drives socio-economic growth and increases foreign exchange earnings. Yet few countries tackle tourism as an export sector.

      Regional sector or function strategy

      Broader blueprints strengthen regional value chains, align policies and spur collaboration between neighbouring countries. This normally happens within a regional bloc or institution, focusing on one sector or trade support function.

      Small business competitiveness strategy

      This blueprint builds a conducive business environment for small businesses to compete and innovate, creating high-value jobs while moving towards internationalization.

      Implementation management support

      A package of services to build the structures, systems and skills needed to turn the action plans into concrete projects -- including how to raise resources for implementation.
      The strategy is an invaluable tool which will lead the way to the continued elevation of Saint Lucia as an export leader in the region. Every sector, planned intervention, policy to be debated, and activity to be coordinated was penned through a meticulously inclusive process that took the nation, the exporters, the buyers, the environment and all other factors affecting trade into consideration.
      The strategy is an invaluable tool which will lead the way to the continued elevation of Saint Lucia as an export leader in the region. Every sector, planned intervention, policy to be debated, and activity to be coordinated was penned through a meticulously inclusive process that took the nation, the exporters, the buyers, the environment and all other factors affecting trade into consideration.
      Sunita Daniel
      Export Saint Lucia, CEO
      We are following the National Export Strategy to ensure that people in the country have better incomes, better jobs, better housing, better education and better healthcare.
      We are following the National Export Strategy to ensure that people in the country have better incomes, better jobs, better housing, better education and better healthcare.
      Ranil Wickremesinghe
      Former Prime Minister, Sri Lanka
      The sector export strategy will provide a blueprint to boost quality tea exports from Nepal and diversify its market by improving quality and compliance to meet market demand in global market.
      The sector export strategy will provide a blueprint to boost quality tea exports from Nepal and diversify its market by improving quality and compliance to meet market demand in global market.
      Meen Bahadur Bishwakarma
      Former Minister of Commerce, Nepal
      The Trade and Investment Roadmap will perfectly supplement the objectives set out in the Mongol Export Program in supporting our domestic producers to export to the international markets around the globe.
      The Trade and Investment Roadmap will perfectly supplement the objectives set out in the Mongol Export Program in supporting our domestic producers to export to the international markets around the globe.
      Tsogtbaatar Damdin
      Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia

      Resources

      ITC contact

      Chief of Export Strategy
      Anton
      Said
      Email
      said [at] intracen.org