Global awards recognize excellence in innovative export initiatives (en)

(Geneva/Marrakech) – Trade and investment promotion organizations from Madagascar, Costa Rica and France have been awarded this year’s top prizes for launching innovative programmes in their countries that help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to better benefit from regional and global trade opportunities.

The awards were presented as part of the 11th Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Network World Conference and Awards on the evening of 24 November in Marrakech, Morocco. The categories are:

• Best Trade Promotion Organization from a Least Developed Country: Madagascar 
• Best Trade Promotion Organization from a Developing Country: Costa Rica
• Best Trade Promotion Organization from a Developed Country: France 

Recognizing innovation and efficiency

‘These awards recognize trade and investment promotion organizations that promote sustainable, inclusive growth through trade thus creating a transformational impact on business,’ said Arancha González, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC).

She added that supporting SMEs is critical in today’s competitive global economy: ‘By offering targeted services to enterprises, trade and investment promotion organizations contribute to creating jobs and export income for their countries.’

The 14 trade and investment promotion organizations nominated for this year’s awards were from Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Jamaica, Republic of Korea, Madagascar, the Netherlands and Qatar.

The winners

Madagascar – Connecting SMEs to new markets

The International Trade Board of Madagascar supports traditional, semi-industrial and handicraft exports from SMEs. Since its creation in 2013, it has opened a one-stop shop for exports; certified two business clusters as organic and fair trade, opening doors to the European Union and United States markets; has supported seven intermediary organizations to launch their own websites; and enabled luxury-clothing exporters to participate in trade fairs in Europe, Canada and the United States.

Costa Rica – Supporting SME diversification

PROCOMER’s new awards programme is boosting export diversification for SMEs. Created in 2015, it helps SMEs to be sustainable and financially independent. It has also developed a ‘teamwork’ methodology to bring SMEs together in voluntary alliances, working across the agriculture, food, industry and services sectors.

France – implementing internationalization strategies

Business France, with the investment bank Bpifrance and credit insurance company Coface, delivered customized support to connect 1,000 mid-sized companies with high growth potential to international markets. Of 850 companies enrolled, 65% have signed or negotiated an export contract.

Awarding Moroccan firms

The ceremony also recognized three Moroccan companies, which received awards from the conference host, Maroc Export.

The 11th TPO Network World Conference and Awards is being hosted by Maroc Export under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, in partnership with ITC.

Notes for the Editors

For more about the event, the winners and their accomplishments, please visit www.tponetwork.net

Download video of the winners: https://we.tl/yTfwqsSflO

Watch video of the winners on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2gmW4JR

Download photos of the winners: https://we.tl/VnemazVZsi

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See our publication: Investing in Trade Promotion Generates Revenue
http://www.intracen.org/publication/Investing-in-Trade-Promotion-Generates-Revenue/

About the International Trade Centre: ITC is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

For further information

Susanna Pak
Media Officer
M: +212 655 625 890
E: pak [at] intracen.org (pak[at]intracen[dot]org)