Global awards recognize excellence in innovative export initiatives (en)

Trade and investment are two sides of the same coin. ‘For countries to break out of the traditional basket of export products, there must be synergies between policies on investment and trade promotion,’ according to Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Opening the 11th Trade Promotion Organization Network World Conference and Awards on 24 November in Marrakech, Morocco, Kituyi focused on the role of innovation in driving trade and investment in Africa and beyond.

As part of the biennial global conference – this year hosted by Maroc Export in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) – trade and investment promotion organizations are recognized for launching initiatives that create positive impact.

This year, national trade and investment promotion organizations from Madagascar, Costa Rica and France were recognized for excellence in export development programmes. These programmes must demonstrate a significant impact on the international competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) accessing regional and global markets.

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

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

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 2016 Adjudicating Panel for the awards is chaired by ITC Executive Director Arancha González and includes senior representatives of the 2014 Trade Promotion Organization Network Awards.