Nouveaux guides des affaires – La compétitivité commerciale pour les petites enterprises (en)
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is releasing nine new business guides for entrepreneurs and trade support institutions in developing countries, as part of its package of programmes that enable businesses to boost export competitiveness.
The guides now free online, cover: access to trade finance; Islamic banking; geographical indications; innovative entrepreneurs in trade in services; export promotion and the World Trade Organization (WTO); European Community (EC)-CARIFORUM business opportunities; trade remedies in Brazil; electronic commerce; and consumer conscience.
“By building the capacity of enterprises to become more competitive, despite today’s challenging business environment, jobs are created and communities are regenerated,” said Patricia R. Francis, ITC’s Executive Director. “These guides are practical, accessible resources to enable businesses to navigate the maze of trade rules and regulations and to seize new opportunities.”
The guides come at a critical time, as the current global environment is demanding new ways of doing business. “ITC believes that small businesses hold the key to economic recovery and development,” added Ms. Francis, “which is why we’ve decided to make these resources available free online.”
Below are details of the nine guides:
Guide to Geographical Indications: Linking Products and their Origins
(Available in English, French and Spanish)
With only 10% of the world’s protected geographical indications coming from developing countries, there is great scope to expand use of this branding tool to generate revenue for poor communities. This book draws from eight cases and 200 published reports to provide insights on how to set up and monitor geographical indications, and share costs and benefits.
How to Access Trade Finance: A Guide for Exporting SMEs
(English)
This practical guide describes how to obtain finance for small firms, including the credit process of financial institutions, pre-application preparation, finding the appropriate lenders and loan repayment.
Islamic Banking – A Guide for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
(English)
This comprehensive guide to the fast-growing field of Islamic banking describes Islamic financial instruments and how small firms can use them.
Service Pioneers: Stories of Innovative Entrepreneurs
(English, French and Spanish)
With 28 case studies from 18 countries, this book showcases the diversity of trade in services that flourishes in developing countries. The book also provides insights on sustaining excellence and innovation.
Export Promotion and the WTO: A Brief Guide
(English)
This study focuses on export promotion schemes that developing countries may use without violating international trade rules, and examines systems in place in the developing world.
EC-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement: Services and Investment Commitments
(English)
This guide covers the EC-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement, including business opportunities in services sectors and investment potential in manufacturing, agriculture and mining for Caribbean enterprises in Europe, and for European businesses in Caribbean markets.
Business Guide to Trade Remedies in Brazil: Anti-dumping, Countervailing and Safeguards Legislation, Practices and Procedures
(English)
This is a guide to Brazil’s trade remedy procedures (anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguards measures), from the perspective of WTO agreements. It equips trading partners with information to defend their trading rights in Brazil.
Secrets of Electronic Commerce: A Guide for Small and Medium-sized Exporters
(Second edition)
(English)
This book provides information, resources and advice on e-commerce in an easy-to-use Q&A format.
Consumer Conscience: How Environment and Ethics Are Influencing Exports
(English)
This report reflects on how entrepreneurs in developing countries can break into ethical trade markets, and how to use ethical trade to raise standards of living for poor communities.
See www.intracen.org/publications for ITC’s new business guides in PDF format. Print copies are for sale and can be ordered at www.intracen.org/eshop