International Trade Forum articles from October 1999

International Trade Forum archives from October 1999

From the Editor.
October 1, 1999... To encourage economic growth through export-led development, ITC believes that technical assistance is most needed in three areas: helping businesses understand WTO rules; strengthening enterprise competitiveness; and developing new trade...

National Capacity for Export Growth.(Brief Article)
October 1, 1999... During the Third WTO Ministerial Conference (Seattle, 30 November -- 3 December 1999), U.S. President Clinton invited the heads of several multilateral organizations to share view on what their agencies could do to support the least developed...

Traditional Carpets and Kilims.
October 1, 1999... Producers and exporters of traditional carpets and kilims need new marketing approaches to meet today's challenges: an increase in machine-made carpets that imitate Oriental rugs and kilims; growing consumer interest in environmentally friendly...

Export Letters of Credit.
October 1, 1999... Eight Steps to Error-Freee Compliance Faulty letters of credit are a common problem for companies involved in international trade. The eight steps outlined in this article can help companies reduce errors in the documentation required for...

The Need for a Strategic Response.
October 1, 1999... Since the Uruguay Round of trade agreements was completed in 1994, rapid evolution has occurred in several business areas that would have been difficult to predict then, including electronic commerce, industrial clustering and out-sourcing....

The Philippines.
October 1, 1999... Since the Asian financial crisis in 1997, Philippine export growth has been among the highest in the region. The most recently completed Export Development Plan (1993-98) exceeded the overall foreign exchange earnings target. The Export...

Finland.(Brief Article)
October 1, 1999... Finland was comparatively late in "globalizing" its economy. In fact, Finland ranked last in terms of internationalization among developed countries surveyed in the World Economic Forum/IMD 1993 World Competitiveness Report. Yet, in less than...

Ireland.
October 1, 1999... Over the past 15 years, Ireland has become a highly successful export-oriented economy, capable of competing to the highest international technical standards in manufacturing and services. Total merchandise export earnings exceeded US$ 64.8...

New Zealand.
October 1, 1999... Despite comparative advantages in growing and harvesting animals, fish, crops and trees, New Zealand faces two competitive disadvantages: its distance from major markets, and the scale of its small domestic market. Marketing and distribution...

Mauritius.(Brief Article)
October 1, 1999... Mauritius is an economic development success story. Success has been due largely to the effective planning and management of a series of national export strategies. Over the past 30 years, these strategies have moved Mauritius from a...

Chile.(Brief Article)
October 1, 1999... Over the past 25 years, Chile has transformed its export sector through an economic strategy highlighting liberalization, openness and internationalization. In 1975, just prior to implementation of the strategy, 200 firms were exporting 200...

International Perspectives.
October 1, 1999... These selected examples from academic experts and international organizations formed part of the contributions to the event. Further contributions can be found on the Executive Forum Web site and in the forthcoming publication, Redefining...

Where Do We Go from Here?
October 1, 1999... Partners' Views on the Executive Forum Viewpoint from Nepal Padma Jyoti Where do we go from here?" is a wise question to ask, especially at the end of the first leg of any journey. Before coming to Annecy, many of us thought...

ITC's Joint Advisory Group Meets Informally.(Brief Article)
October 1, 1999... An informal session of ITO's Joint Advisory Group took place on 2 November 1999 in Geneva. The session was chaired by A. Mannan of Bangladesh, Vice-Chairman of the 32nd session of the Joint Advisory Group (April 1999). Focusing solely on...

Pan-Arab Buyers-Sellers Meeting on Pharmaceuticals.(Brief Article)
October 1, 1999... ITC conducted its fourth pan-Arab buyers-sellers event in Amman in November 1999, concentrating on the pharmaceutical sector. Hosted by the Government of Jordan, 60 companies from 13 Arab countries attended. The companies reported to ITC that...

New: ITC Portfolio of Project Proposals.(Brief Article)
October 1, 1999... Business communities in developing countries request assistance on 80 trade-related projects Developing and transition economies increasingly participate in the evolving WTO system. These countries, and especially the least developed among...

E-commerce Groundwork in Saudi Arabia.(Brief Article)
October 1, 1999... ITC organized a seminar on export development and e-commerce at the University of King Saudia in Riyadh in October 1999, its first on the subject in Saudi Arabia. ITC highlighted the need for marketing strategies to take full advantage of new...

Buyers-Sellers Meeting for Fish Products Industry.(Brief Article)
October 1, 1999... ITC organized a buyers-sellers meeting in Cape Town in October 1999 for the fish industry sector of southern Africa, generating US$ 1.5 million of confirmed business orders. Another $US 6 million of orders were under negotiation as a result of...

Czechs Inaugurate New Purchasing Association.
October 1, 1999... The Czech Institute of Trade and Industry, the Swiss Association of Purchasing and Supply Management and ITC have seen the work of several years come to fruition with the creation of a new Czech Association for Purchasing and Logistics. ...

Meeting Reviews ITC Trade Information Strategy.
October 1, 1999... An ITO Technical Meeting on 3 November 1999 focused on ITC's trade information services, reviewing a recent evaluation and ITO strategy. The meeting was chaired by D. Bouchart, Executive Secretary of the International Agency for the Development...

Southeast Asia Study Tour.
October 1, 1999... ITC organized a two-week study tour to the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore for a group of key Indian government officials, experts and exporters. India's exports of wooden artisanal products are estimated at US$ 68 million, accounting...

African Business Laws on CD-ROM and the Internet.
October 1, 1999... Fifteen countries in Africa have joined forces to offer a single business law environment, in order to facilitate worldwide trade with businesses. OHADA -- the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa -- has been working...

Organic Food and Beverages: World Supply and Major European Markets.
October 1, 1999... Organic Food and Beverages: World Supply and Major European Markets. 271 pages. Market study of organic food and beverages in Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom -- explains nature of organic...

Export Quality Management: Resource Material for Training Activities.
October 1, 1999... Export Quality Management: Resource Material for Training Activities. 110 pages. Quality management book -- discusses basic concepts of quality management, based on internationally accepted principles and practice, and examines their...

Business Guide to the World Trading System.
October 1, 1999... Business Guide to the World Trading System. (2nd ed.) 329 pages. Trade agreements, WTO, trade liberalization. Updated version of Business Guide to the Uruguay Round 1995 ed. -- reviews developments that have taken place between 1996 and 1999....

Business Guide to the General Agreement on Trade in Services.
October 1, 1999... Business Guide to the General Agreement on Trade in Services. 236 pages. Guide to the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and the key features of the multilateral system of trade rules covering services -- examines rights and benefits...

Trade in Information Technology Products and the WTO Agreements: Current Situation and Views of Exporters in Developing Countries.
October 1, 1999... Trade in Information Technology Products and the WTO Agreements: Current Situation and Views of Exporters in Developing Countries. 199 pages. Electronic equipment, computers, software, telecommunications, services and Uruguay Round trade...

Implications of World Trade Organization Agreements for International Trade in Environmental Industries.
October 1, 1999... Implications of World Trade Organization Agreements for International Trade in Environmental Industries. 108 pages. Study addressing implications of Uruguay Round trade agreements for international trade in environmentally sound technology and...