International Trade Centre

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. Its own description of its function is that it "enables small business export success in developing countries by providing, with partners, trade development solutions to the private sector, trade support institutions and policy-makers."

ITC works in six areas:

• Product and market development
• Development of trade support services
• Trade information
• Human resource development
• International purchasing and supply management
• Needs assessment, programme design for trade promotion

ITC’s technical assistance concentrates on the three issues for which it believes the need for national capacity-building is most critical: helping businesses understand WTO rules; strengthening enterprise competitiveness; and developing new trade promotion strategies.

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Trade Information Services

ITC’s Trade Information Services (TIS) aim at creating and strengthening the information management capacity of public and private sector Trade Support Institutions at national and regional levels. To achieve this, the TIS team provides technical advice, training programmes, market information resources and web-based solutions. TIS services include the following three areas:

Advisory services in trade information management

• Diagnosis of TSIs and enterprises’ trade information needs, and assessment of TSIs’ existing information service capacities at national or regional level
• Formulation of operational plans for setting up trade information services within TSIs (e.g. trade promotion organisations, chambers of commerce, sector associations, WTO Reference Centres)
• Development of technical and operational infrastructures, in terms of web-based platforms, content creation and management (eg website / trade information portal design and production)
• Implementation of effective information processing, management and delivery processes
• Selection and acquisition of relevant trade intelligence material

Training programmes

• Information management: training programme for TSI information officers in the approaches and techniques required to successfully operate trade-related information services
• Information research skills for TSIs and enterprises: how to identify, acquire and utilize information sources, whether drawn from the Internet or other sources
• Market research methodology: learning how to apply desk-based market research techniques to produce brief and product/market specific Market Profiles
• Support to WTO Reference Centres: training in the effective management of such centres and their integration into the information services of the host organization

Provision of market information, resources and systems

• Provision of information sources on international markets through services such as ITC’s Market News Service (MNS), Market Brief Programme, online directories (trade support institutions, importers associations, etc.)
• Customisation of trade information systems to the needs of partner institutions (eg creation of national and/or regional Business Information Portals)

Enterprise Competitiveness

ITC’s Enterprise Competitiveness section (EC) specializes in private sector development by delivering capacity building programs that increase the sustainability of high-quality business development services. EC interventions focus on prioritized sectors with high export potential and identified opportunities for sustainable pro-poor income generation. EC leverages a strategic partner network to provide clusters of SMEs with technical assistance to enhance productivity, innovation and international competitiveness.

EC activities focus on:

• Meeting the needs of market support actors, i.e. Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs); and
• Providing export facilitation solutions and direct technical assistance to clusters of SMEs.

Development of export knowledge and the transfer of quality skills are integral to EC’s work, articulated around three Practice Areas:

• Export Management Development;
• Enterprise Value Chain; and
• Export Marketing and Branding

EC offers a comprehensive package of modular training programs targeted to export professionals and business development service providers in developing countries.

Programs can be customized to different audience situations and toolkits are designed to deliver practical solutions in a ‘how to’ mode. Capacity building can be delivered to community micro-enterprises, gender or other cross-cutting requirement.

Market Analysis Research

The Market Analysis Research (MAR) is part of the Division of Market Development of the International Trade Centre. MAR produces and disseminates on-line market analysis tools, conducts market research and trade analysis, and delivers training programmes in market analysis for the business community, trade support institutions and policy makers.

• Trade Map - Trade statistics for international trade development [1]
• Market Access Map - UN's ITC website for accessible tariff information FITML
• Investment Map - Foreign Direct Investment statistical data together with foreign companies, international trade and tariffs [3]
• Tailored Studies - Trade-related, tailor-made research and market analysis [4]
• Capacity Building - Providing foundations for successful export strategies Android

See also

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External links

• International Trade Centre (ITC)

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