Trade promotion organizations fund free access to Trade Map to support export growth (en)

Five trade promotion organizations (TPOs) in high-income countries are supporting continued free usage of the International Trade Centre’s (ITC) Trade Map for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries.

Advantage Austria, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the Public Authority for Investment Promotion and Export Development (Ithraa) in Oman, Qatar Development Bank and Ubifrance are the five TPOs that have renewed their funding support for Trade Map, an online database of trade statistics combined with a directory of exporters and importers. This initiative falls under ITC’s North-South TPO partnership for development programme to increase exports, income and employment opportunities in developing countries by providing businesses with access to trade and company data to facilitate new partnerships.

‘We are proud to be one of the first to support ITC’s initiative to help develop the economies of low-income countries by providing them with access to detailed analysis of current trade patterns, indicators, growth markets and forecasts for future commerce,’ said Nasima Al Balushi, Director-General of Export Development at Ithraa, who leads the Omani TPO.

‘Trade Map is a valuable tool when planning and executing trade strategies, as it helps create opportunities for developing nations to enter world markets,’ she said.

Since the launch of the North-South TPO partnership in June 2013, approximately 65,000 new users in developing countries have registered in the Trade Map database. Users have accessed Trade Map more than 1.3 million times. A questionnaire conducted in November 2013 reveals that ITC’s market analysis tools, including Trade Map, have helped a majority of surveyed companies to increase their exports.

‘The results of ITC’s initiative are very positive and in line with Advantage Austria’s objective to help enterprises and TPOs in low-income countries to better access trade information,’ said Advantage Austria’s Deputy Director-General Karl Hartleb.

‘Ubifrance sees this initiative as a first step towards further partnership initiatives with ITC,’ said Muriel Pénicaud, CEO of Ubifrance and France’s Ambassador for International Investment.

The ITC market analysis tools include Trade Map, Market Access Map, Investment Map and Standards Map. They collectively help improve international trade transparency and enable companies and trade support institutions to identify export and import opportunities. ITC’s tools also assist policymakers in monitoring national trade performance and preparing for trade negotiations.