THE INTERNAT IONAL TRADE CENTER

• Formed in 1964, ITC has been the focal point within the United Nations system for trade related technical assistance (TRTA).

• ITC is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations.

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• Its aim is for businesses in developing countries to become more competitive in global markets, speeding economic development and contributing to the achievement of the UN’s (MDGs)

• Contributing to poverty reduction by boosting trade is a key objective of ITC’s trade related technical assistance (TRTA). This is also the focus of the Aid for Trade agenda.

MISSION AND OBJECTIVES• ITC's mission is to foster

sustainable economic development and contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals in developing countries and countries with economies in transition through trade and international business development.

ITC’S STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

• Building Awareness and improving the availability and use of trade intelligence • Strengthening TSIs • Enhancing policies for the benefit of exporting enterprises.• Building the export capacity of enterprises to respond to market

opportunities • Mainstream inclusiveness and sustainability into trade promotion

and export development policies.

ACTIVITIES OF THE ITC• The measure of ITC’s success is in job

creation, poverty reduction, improved community welfare, and increased revenue for businesses and communities.

• Therefore the measurement of its

success – are determined by the commercial viability of the project along with its development impact.

• Contributing to poverty reduction by boosting trade is a key objective of ITC’s trade related technical assistance (TRTA).

• E.g The trade at hand programme in Uganda and Tanzania where mobile phone-based business-matching service that facilitates transactions between agricultural producers and traders by linking the producers to markets and market information.

• ITC facilitates export development that assures commercial viability of individual companies, empowers women economically, and works towards inclusive economic, social and environmental sustainability

• ITC assists small export businesses in developing countries to be successful.

• We do this by continually delivering, with our partners, trade development solutions to the private sector, trade support institutions and policymakers.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ITC

ROLE OF ITC IN GLOBAL TRADE

• Strengthening the international competitiveness of enterprises through support and training to increase their international competitiveness.   

• Increasing the capacity of trade support institutions (TSIs) so that they better support businesses.   

• Improving the ability of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to integrate into the world trading system,

• Increasing the ability of the private-sector to advocate their priorities to policymakers, and have these reflected in trade policy.

 

• ITC fulfills a unique and important role in providing Trade Related Technical Assistance for LDCs, focusing on the private sector.ITC MARKET ANALYSIS TOOLS

The International Trade Centre has developed five Market Analysis Tools used to enhance the transparency of global trade and market access.

All users are requested to register to ITC’s Market Analysis Tools through an online registration platform available at http://www.intracen.org/marketanalysis Users based in developed countries have to pay a subscription fee.TRADE MAPIncludes time series trade statistics , market shares, trends, and other trade indicators for 220 countries and territories.

MARKET ACCESS MAPIncludes customs tariffs applied by 191 countries and faced by 239 countries and territories; tariff rate quotas; trade remedies; rules and certificates of origin; as well as bound tariffs of WTO members. INVESTMENT MAPIncludes statistics on FDI flows and stocks by country and industry for 110 countries, together with information on the operations of foreign affiliate companies active in developing countries.

TRADE COMPETITIVENESS MAPIncludes country market analysis profiles for around 240 countries and territories. Each profile provides a series of tools to facilitate strategic market research, monitor national and sectoral trade and macro-economic performance and design trade development strategies.

STANDARDS MAPIt provides users with information enabling them to analyse and compare information on more than 70 voluntary standards operating in over 200 countries, and certifying products and services in more than 80 economic sectors. Users can review and compare standards across common themes and criteria. it also includes reference material to increase awareness and knowledge of voluntary standards